US suspends diplomatic relationship with Russia over Syria conflict
“This is not a decision that was taken lightly,” United State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement. Everybody’s patience with Russia has run out,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Monday while addressing the decision.
”Russia had lost credibility by making a series of commitments without any indication they were committed to following them,” saying Russia and its Syrian regime allies tried “to bomb civilian populations into submission. Their unwillingness to uphold the cease-fire accord was demonstrated by their intensified attacks against civilian areas, targeting of critical infrastructure such as hospitals, and preventing humanitarian aid from reaching civilians in need.”
“Cooperation over Syria was the Obama administration’s last and best shot for arresting the downward spiral in the bilateral relationship with Russia,” said Andrew S. Weiss, a former White House expert on Russia who is vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The mistrust and hostility toward the United States by the Russian leadership is real and growing. It is going to be the driving force behind Russian external behavior for many years to come.”
