UK May Consider Issue of Anti-Russian Sanctions Over Situation in Syria

UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson did not rule out on Monday that Russia could be hit by sanctions over its alleged involvement in the worsening of situation in war-torn Syria.

LONDON (Sputnik) — Syria is witnessing intensified fighting in the city of Aleppo, after the Syrian army declared an end to the week-long ceasefire, blaming militants for numerous violations that made the cessation of hostilities null and void.

"All these things are gonna be considered," Johnson told the Sky News broadcaster, answering a question whether Russia could face further sanctions over the escalation of hostilities in Syria.

On Sunday, US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power accused Russia of "barbarism," while her UK counterpart Matthew Rycroft claimed it was "difficult to deny" that Russia and Damascus were committing war crimes. Johnson, on his part, said that Russia was guilty of protracting the war in Syria. According to him, Russia might be guilty of war crimes if allegations of a recent attack on a UN humanitarian convoy in Aleppo were true.

On September 19, a UN-Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy carrying humanitarian aid for Aleppo province was hit by an strike, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). As a result, 18 of 31 trucks were destroyed and at least 21 individuals were killed. A number of US military officials claimed that Russia was responsible, while Moscow called for a thorough investigation into the incident.