The United Nations Security Council has agreed to extend a system for cross-border aid to Syria for six months, as requested by Russia, diplomats told AFP on Monday.

Western nations had sought a one-year extension, but a vote by the 15 members on half of that is expected later in the day.

According to the diplomats, the agreement will be renewed for another six months in January 2023, subject to the adoption of a new resolution.

Earlier, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution for six months, to deliver humanitarian aid across the Turkish border to the Syrian Bab Al-Hawa crossing.

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Syria's permanent representative to the United Nations, Bassam Sabbagh, said that delegates, including the Russian and Chinese delegates, made efforts to highlight ways to improve the humanitarian situation and the delivery of aid to Syria.

He added, "Western states insisted on ignoring certain perspectives and focused on efforts to extend the entry of aid to serve their agendas, reaffirming their indifference to the suffering of the Syrian people and the ongoing violation of Syria's sovereignty." 

Russia vetoes Western draft

In a Security Council session, Russia used its veto against a Western draft resolution calling for the extension of sending aid from the United Nations to Syria through Turkey without Damascus' consent for one year; Moscow has accepted the extension for six months only.

"We regret that the efforts of the delegations of Ireland and Norway, the pen holders on the humanitarian dossier, didn't find the best way of resolving the issue," Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy said, pointing out that the resolution did not include Damascus' interests. 

A draft resolution by Norway and Ireland stipulates "extending the use of the Bab Al-Hawa crossing on the Syrian-Turkish border, through which hundreds of aid trucks pass per month, until July 10, 2023."

Thirteen council members supported the Western draft resolution, while Russia opposed it and China abstained from the vote. In this context, a draft resolution submitted by Russia failed to be adopted after a double veto by the US and the UK.