ALL OUT OF IDEAS: John Kerry and Boris threaten Syria and Russia with MORE sanctions
BORIS Johnson and John Kerry have threatened Russia with more economic sanctions in another desperate bid to end the Syria crisis.
Boris asserts pressure on ‘puppeteers of regime’ in Syria
Following a major meeting in London, Mr Johnson said Russia and Iran were "puppets" of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.
And Mr Kerry accused them of "barbarianism" and described the situation in Aleppo as a "horrendous step back in time".
But neither offered any clear solutions to end the bloody Syrian civil war, which has claimed an estimated 400,000 lives since 2011.
Mr Johnson insisted "no option" was "off the table" but said there was a "lack of appetite" in the West for a military solution to the crisis.
The Foreign Secretary told a press conference: "We've got to work with the tools we have – the tools we have are diplomatic.
"The most powerful weapon we have at the moment is our ability to make the Russians feel the consequences of what they are doing."
Johnson and Kerry raised the possibility of economic sanctions
The Foreign Secretary insisted Russia was 'feeling the pressure'
The US Secretary of State backed up Mr Johnson's claims, saying "I haven't seen a big appetite in Europe for people to go to war.
"I don't see the parliaments of European countries ready to declare war, I don't see a lot of countries deciding that that's the better solution here.
"So we are pursuing diplomacy because those are the tools that we have and we're trying to find a way forward under those circumstances."
The Syrian civil war has claimed around 400,000 lives since 2011
Russia and Assad have chosen crimes against humanity
Mr Kerry also said the bombardment of civilians in Aleppo was the "biggest humanitarian disaster since World War Two".
He added: "It could stop tomorrow if Russia and the Assad regime were to behave to any standard of decency.
"But they've chosen not to. Instead they've chosen crimes against humanity."
Kerry accused Syria and Assad's regime of 'crimes against humanity'
Mr Johnson later said Russia was "feeling the pressure" from the international community over its support of Assad's regime.
He added: "It is up to them to to show leadership. It is up to them to show mercy and get that ceasefire going. Let's bring that slaughter to an end.
"We want to bring the culprits for the slaughter to justice."