19 Oct 2016 14:56

Russian Foreign Ministry rules out unilateral pause extension in Aleppo

MOSCOW. Oct 19 (Interfax) - Russia has ruled out extending the humanitarian pause in Aleppo unilaterally, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

"I rule out that we and the Syrian government can jointly extend the humanitarian pause," he told reporters.

A unilateral extension would be equivalent to a retreat, he said.

"It was repeatedly stressed that the humanitarian pauses are being used by the opponents of Bashar al-Assad to regroup and receive reinforcements, ammunition and weapons. So a decision here is possible on the basis of agreements," Ryabkov said.

"A unilateral extension is equivalent to a unilateral retreat, so we won't accept that," the deputy minister said.