John Kerry condemns Russia's 'repeated aggression' in Syria and Ukraine

Associated Press in Munich
Saturday 13 February 2016 14.41 GMT

John Kerry on Saturday sharply criticized Russia for its actions in Ukraine and Syria, accusing Moscow of “repeated aggression” in both places.

In a speech at the Munich Security Conference, the US secretary of state said Russia is defying the will of the international community with its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine and its military intervention in Syria on behalf of President Bashar al-Assad.

His comments came just after Russia’s prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, told the conference that the west is rekindling the cold war with sanctions imposed on Russia over Ukraine and with new Nato moves.

Kerry praised European countries for holding firm on the Ukraine penalties. He urged Moscow to act in good faith in forging a truce in Syria and to allow a political transition that would end the civil war.

He repeated allegations that Russian airstrikes in Syria have not been directed at terrorists but rather at moderate opposition groups supported by the US and its European and Arab partners. Kerry also said that Russia would have to change tactics if an agreement struck on Friday for a temporary truce in Syria is to take effect in a week.

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