The failed U.N. cease-fire in Syria and Russia's enabling of the Assad regime marks a "day of shame" for the U.N. Security Council, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley told council members.
The council met Tuesday to go over how effective its existing resolutions on Syria had been. Haley was pointed in her condemnation of Russia, which she said aided Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his efforts to retake his country's last rebel-held areas during the U.N. cease-fire.
In late February, the security council ordered a 30-day break in fighting in Syria "without delay." But Syrian forces largely ignored that order; aid was not allowed to get to besieged areas, and Assad's forces pushed into areas including Eastern Ghouta supported by Russian warplanes.
Russia had voted in favor of the cease-fire after vetoing previous proposals. Haley said Russia "cynically negotiated" the cease-fire and "instantly defied" it.
The U.N. estimates that more than 1,700 people have been killed there since the cease-fire.
