WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States, Kirby stated, has been preparing to cut off cooperation with Moscow because of Syrian government offensives in Aleppo.
“We know that in some cases the [Syrian] opposition themselves have conducted attacks and violated the cessation of hostilities,” Kirby told reporters.
"We are working through steps that we might have to take to begin to suspend our engagement with Russia on Syria. We haven’t taken those steps yet," Kirby added.
US Department of State spokesperson Mark Toner said in a briefing on Wednesday that the United States is getting close to cutting off cooperation with Russia on implementing a ceasefire in Syria.
"I can’t put a date certain or an hour certain on when that door will close [on US-Russian cooperation in Syria], as we are using that metaphor, but I think that it’s very close,” Toner told reporters.
Toner claimed that the intensification of the Syrian government’s assault on Aleppo has called into question that Damascus and Moscow are genuinely committed to a cessation of hostilities.
Moscow has repeatedly called on Washington to ensure Syrian opposition fighters separate themselves from terrorists that have undermined the ceasefire.
Lavrov, for his part, informed Kerry that some Syrian opposition units have joined the Nusra Front terrorist group instead of honoring the ceasefire agreement.
