Kerry: Russian Bombs Killing Women and Children ‘in Large Numbers’

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:

“First of all, I would like to say that neither Russia nor Assad are in compliance with the United Nations resolution 2254, that they voted for, that at least Russia voted for. That resolution calls for, in December, on the 18th of December, called for immediate access for humanitarian assistance to all Syrians in all parts of the country. Neither the regime or the supporters have made that happen. Secondly, it calls an end for all area bombardment and bombardment of civilians. That should have ended and it hasn't. Moreover, there is evidence that is clear that Russia is using what are called free-fall bombs, not precision bombs. And there are civilians, including women and children, being killed in large numbers, hospitals, and civilian quarters have been hit. In some cases, after the bombing has taken place, when the workers have gone in to take the wounded, the bombers come back and kill the people trying to help the wounded. This has to stop, nobody has any question about that. It’s not going to stop by whining about it or walking away from the table or not engaging. You have to have a negotiation to arrive at the modalities. The next days will tell the story of whether or not people are serious or people are not serious. We are engaged, right now, as I talk, yesterday, in direct discussions in order to determine whether or not access could be quickly provided. A number of modalities are being discussed. And, the modalities of a cease fire itself are also being discussed and the Russians have made some constructive ideas about how a cease fire, in fact, could be implemented. If it's just talk for the sake of talk in order to continue the bomb bombing, nobody's going to accept that.”