WASHINGTON (AP) — US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart resumed discussions on Syria on Wednesday despite a US decision earlier this week to suspend direct talks with Moscow on trying to end the conflict.
Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke to each other by phone about Syria and several other issues, but the State Department maintained the chat was outside the engagement that Washington put on hold just 48 hours earlier due to continued bombardment of the besieged city of Aleppo.
“It would be irresponsible for us, given what’s happening in Aleppo, not to touch base with Foreign Minister Lavrov periodically,” spokesman Mark Toner told reporters. He noted that Kerry and Lavrov also discussed North Korea and Ukraine.
Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories
Free Sign Up
Toner said Kerry had also spoken about Syria with the top diplomats from Britain, the European Union, France, Germany, Turkey and Qatar.
The call with Lavrov “was part of those multilateral efforts now that are going to continue because we recognize they got to be part of the conversation,” Toner said. He said the suspension of contacts with Russia had to do only with implementing a cease-fire that Kerry and Lavrov had agreed to on Sept. 9 but that quickly broke down.
The US suspended that engagement Monday due to continued deteriorating conditions in Aleppo but said it would remain active in seeking peace. Toner said Kerry would be “remiss” not to raise concerns with Russia about what is happening in Aleppo, where Syrian forces backed by Russian air power are conducting air raids on rebel-held parts of the city.
Greetings from the Vaccination Nation
One tiny country has led the world in COVID vaccination. If Israel’s achievement makes you proud, there’s something you should know. Huge audiences have flocked to The Times of Israel recently from countries where Israel normally makes the news only because of its conflicts.
They’ve been coming here to read a very different kind of article. We’ve been the go-to site for everyone intrigued by the success story of the “Vaccination Nation.”
As ToI's Health and Science correspondent, I’ve written much of this coverage - and it’s been exhilarating to see its impact. Our journalism has inspired many articles in media outlets worldwide. I know this because international journalists have often contacted me for input.
Your support, through The Times of Israel Community, helps us to continue providing surprising, impressive stories from this small state to readers around the world. Will you join our Community today?
Thank you,
Nathan Jeffay, Health & Science Correspondent
Join our Community
Join our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You’re serious. We appreciate that!
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we come to work every day - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
comments