Anger after Russia shields Syria regime with U.N. veto

World powers reacted with anger and dismay after Russia vetoed a draft resolution at the U.N. Security Council that would have condemned last week’s deadly chemical attack in Syria’s Idlib province. This is the eighth time Moscow has blocked a resolution and shielded Damascus against any direct action by the world body.

The resolution, presented by the U.S., France and the U.K., would have called on the Syrian government to cooperate in an independent probe by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, writes the BBC.

More importantly, China, which has vetoed six resolutions on Syria since 2011, abstained from the voting, a development that drew appreciation from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Defending Moscow’s decision, Russia's deputy ambassador to the U.N., Vladimir Safronkov, said he was surprised that everyone labeled Syria as culprit without even visiting the site of alleged chemical attack, notes Sky News.