Russia Continues to Resist UN Sanctions on Syria

Russian authorities said on Wednesday they would be open to “constructive proposals” concerning proposed U.N. sanctions and have since offered to host peace talks in Moscow. Russia continues to oppose “any U.N. resolution requiring all nations to abide by unilateral sanctions imposed by the west.” Sanctions submitted to the U.N. Security Council last month by the West were greeted by Russia as “one sided.”

Russia blames both the Syrian government and the opposition for violence, and therefore is opposed to sanctions that would prevent the Syrian government from legally obtaining arms while access would remain open to opposition forces. Sanctions implemented by traditional allies were said to be “declared without any consultations with Russia or China or other BRIC nations,” and therefore did not receive Russian support. At this time, the U.S., E.U., Turkey, and the Arab League have all introduced sanctions against the Syrian regime.

Earlier this year, Russia abstained in the U.N. vote authorizing military intervention in Libya, criticizing what it saw as “excessive use of force and civilian casualties.” Russia has taken a stronger position on Syria, expressing that any resolution approved by Russia “must firmly record that it cannot be used or interpreted to justify anyone’s outside military intervention in the Syria crisis.” Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov chimed in saying that Russia “will not allow the repetition of the Libyan scenario.”

On Monday, Russia signed a $550 million contract to sell 36 Yak-130 jets to the Syrian government. Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor of Russia in Global Affairs magazine, opined that Moscow is using the current “status quo” to benefit from “its role of Syria’s monopolist weapons supplier” while actively supporting “its last remaining ally in the region.”