Russia decries ‘new Cold War’ as East-West tensions cloud Syria talks

The world has plunged into a “new Cold War”, the Russian premier said Saturday, as Moscow came under attack at a global security gathering over its targeting of moderate rebels in Syria and intensifying violence in Eastern Ukraine. Western leaders had soured relations and dragged the world back 50 years by raising tensions over the Ukraine conflict and Moscow`s backing of the Syrian regime, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told the Munich Security Conference. As a result, he warned, the world was less secure and terrorists would prosper.

Almost every day we are accused of making new horrible threats either against NATO as a whole, against Europe or against the US or other countries.

Medvedev

Hopes of securing a temporary truce in Syria within a week dimmed further as Syrian government forces tightened the noose around rebel-held parts of Aleppo and Russia’s foreign minister put the chances of a quick truce at less than 50 percent. His comments and strong words from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry underscored deep U.S.-Russian disagreements over Syria. Further complicating the picture, Turkey’s foreign minister said his country and Saudi Arabia may launch ground operations against the Islamic State group in Syria, Turkish media reported. Tensions between Turkey and Russia have also flared in recent months.

This is the moment. This is a hinge point. Decisions made in the coming days and weeks, and a few months could end the war in Syria - or could define a very difficult set of choices for the future.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry

Syria