US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley unloaded on Russian officials Monday over their inability to rein in widespread violence across Syria; warning the Security Council the US is “prepared to act” to defend civilians in the war-torn nation.
“Sixteen days ago we sat around the negotiating table with our Security Council colleagues and we agreed to a thirty-day cease-fire in the brutal bombardment of civilians in Syria. The negotiations were long and difficult; every minute we delayed meant more innocent people were killed,” Haley told the UN.
.@NikkiHaley speaks at a @UN Security Council meeting
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“The Russian delegation stalled throughout the talks; they had conditions they insisted upon before they would allow the killing to stop,” she added. “Today we must ask whether Russia can no longer influence the Assad regime to stop the brutal destruction of hospitals, medical clinics, and ambulances.”
“If we can’t count on the members of the Council to honor their agreements we can’t accomplish anything. And if we can’t act when children are dying, we have no business being here,” Haley said. “If we can’t save families that haven’t seen sunlight for weeks because they’ve been hiding … then the Security Council is as impotent as its critics claim it is.”
Watch Haley’s fiery remarks above.