"Russia, supporting the government [of Syria] must use its influence [to allow for humanitarian aid delivery]. Regional actors must pressure the militants in Aleppo," Steinmeier said, as quoted by the Bild newspaper.
In the absence of a ceasefire, Syrian settlement can only go based on the limited warranties given by parties to the conflict, the minister said.
"It is unbearable that these negotiations on a ceasefire, which had been continuing between Russia and the United States for a week, were not even tested," Steinmeier said.
On Friday, the German foreign minister called on Russia to exert influence on Syrian authorities to ensure humanitarian aid deliveries to people in Aleppo's rebel-held east, in a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that during the phone call on Friday Lavrov and Steinmeier expressed readiness to consider de Mistura's proposal on withdrawal ofJabhat Fatah al Sham (formerly known as the Nusra Front, banned in Russia) fighters from Aleppo.
Fighting in the city of Aleppo intensified after the Syrian army declared an end to the week-long ceasefire on September 23, blaming militants for numerous violations that made the cessation of hostilities unreasonable.
