Secretary of State John Kerry accused Russia on Monday of enabling the Syrian regime's stepped-up military campaign by providing President Bashar al-Assad with more arms, undercutting efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
The sharp criticism from Mr. Kerry reflected growing U.S. frustration with Moscow's continued support of the Syrian president.
Mr. Kerry said Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah have likewise increased their support for the Syrian regime, allowing him to expand his military campaign.
"Russia needs to be a part of the solution and not be contributing so many more weapons and so much more aid that they're in fact enabling Assad to double down, which is creating an enormous problem,"
Mr. Kerry told reporters at a joint news conference in Jakarta with his Indonesian counterpart. His comments came on the final stop of a five-day Asia tour.
Mr. Kerry said it was important for the international community to consider in the coming days "exactly what steps can now be taken in the face of this intransigence."
Talks in Geneva aimed at ending the Syria conflict have stalled over international calls for creating a transition government. Mr. Kerry said the Assad regime agreed to take part in the talks but has refused to accept any discussion of a transition government.
Mr. Kerry said Moscow has repeatedly committed to the goal of creating a transition government and "yet we have not seen the kind of effort to create the dynamic by which that can be achieved."
Mr. Kerry said the U.S. would continue to "look at options" during what he called a "recess for a moment" in the Geneva talks. He didn't say what those options might include
