Moscow Hopes US Secretary of State Kerry Continues Work on Aleppo Initiative

Russia hopes US Secretary of State John Kerry will continue his work on the Aleppo initiative despite the aggressive tone of the US delegation during UN Security Council consultations, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin told the body.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — Churkin said on Monday he regrets the aggressive tone of US representative Samantha Power.

"Her speech indicated once again that the delegation of the United States tries to disavow this initiative of the Secretary of State."

Earlier in the day, the UN Security Council ignored Russian calls to postpone the vote on the draft resolution on a ceasefire in Syria’s city of Aleppo. The draft failed to be adopted as Russia, China and Venezuela voted against it.

"I hope that, after all, the Secretary of State manages to find the strength to go back to this initiative. In such a case, we would be able to find an efficient and long-lasting solution," Churkin stated.

Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed on the plan at a meeting in Rome on Friday. Churkin said the initiative still could succeed and could bring peace to all parts of Aleppo.

The Russian government had expressed hope that the Kerry-Lavrov plan would be used in drafting the UN Security Council resolution on Syria.

Russia urged Security Council members to vote on the draft after Russian and UN experts discuss it in the near future.