United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley blasted Russia's "lies and cover-ups" of the Bashar al-Assad regime's use of chemical weapons in Syria in a speech at the United Nations Security Council Friday.
"We should not be condemning the countries or groups of countries that might actually have the courage to stand up in defense of our common principle, the principle against the use of chemical weapons," she said. "Instead, we should be condemning the country that unilaterally has stopped the security council from upholding this principle."
"It is Russia alone that has stopped at nothing to defend the Syrian regime's multiple uses of chemical weapons."
Haley's condemnation comes after reports that Assad's government used chemical weapons against civilians in Douma, a rebel-held Damascus suburb, killing dozens.
Almost a week later, Russia is making claims the chemical attack was staged. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he had "irrefutable evidence" that the attack was staged by one country conducting a "Russophobic" campaign, the BBC reported.
Haley pointed out Russia had agreed to be the guarantor of Syria's chemical weapons removal.
"If Russia had lived up to its commitment, there would be no chemical weapons in Syria," she said. "Should the United States and our allies decide to act in Syria, it will be in defense of a principle on which we all agree."
Haley also noted the Assad regime's continual use of chemical weapons, and she blamed Russia for preventing a response from the U.N.
"Russia can complain all it wants about fake news," she said. "But no one is buying its lies and cover-ups."