Thread by @Charles_Lister

The stakes involved in this UNSC #Syria vote are huge -- yet it shouldn't be a subject of debate at all.

Making use of its UN veto, #Russia seeks to starve #Syrians into submission -- for a guide to the issue, read this, by Jeffrey Feltman & myself:

politico.com/news/magazine/…

https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/1412411048632766483

#Russia claims that cross-border aid should end & be replaced by cross-line assistance sent from #Damascus -- but that's BS.

For the 4.5m people in NW #Syria in the last 12 months:

- Cross-border: ~12,000 trucks
- Cross-line: 0

Negotiations for cross-line have gone nowhere.

In recent weeks, every single UN body & all major INGOs have made it 100% clear: "there's no alternative to cross-border aid."

Given #Russia's pitiful role in UN aid to #Syria (most years, IKEA funds more than #Moscow), it's simply exasperating that it would cut it altogether.

In comments at the UNSC yesterday, @USAmbUN underlined the U.S. position on #Syria aid clearly -- indicating support for expanding resources for cross-line delivery across #Syria AND demanding a re-expansion of cross-border access via #Turkey & #Iraq.

washingtonpost.com/world/china-wa…

@USAmbUN For there to be any hope for continued cross-border access, #Russia & #China on the other hand, are demanding that the U.S. & #EU lift sanctions on #Assad's regime AND expand support to the @UN's cross-line operation in #Damascus.

That's not likely to be met with agreement.

@USAmbUN @UN The largely unanswered dynamic at play is the #Russia-#Turkey relationship -- an end to cross-border aid would represent an extraordinary crisis for #Ankara -- & it'd deal a major blow to its delicate relationship with #Moscow.

I'd be surprised if #Russia risks that eventuality.