Russia defends veto of aid to northwest Syria for one year

By EDITH M. LEDERER
Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia is defending its veto of a U.N. resolution that would have extended humanitarian aid deliveries to 4.1 million Syrians in the rebel-held northwest from Turkey for a year. Russia’s deputy ambassador Dmitry Polyansky insisted that Moscow’s demand for only a six-month extension was essential and accused Western nations of using “sly” tactics and trying “to govern the world.” He had to defend the veto before the General Assembly.