Russia accuses West of Syria 'blackmail' Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, has accused Russia and China - which also has a veto on the Security Council - of blocking a settlement, saying they should "get off the sidelines" and help. The looming diplomatic clash at the United Nations comes ahead of a Friday deadline for the end of the current three-month mandate of the UN observer mission in Syria. Annan arrived on Monday evening for an informal working dinner with the Russian foreign minister. Neither he nor Lavrov spoke to journalists before going inside for the dinner, the RIA Novosti news agency reported. Annan is due to meet President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday as his peace plan to end the violence continues to disintegrate amid escalating killings.