MOSCOW, Dec 31, 2014 (AFP) - Russia expressed regret at the failure of the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution on Palestinian statehood, describing it as a "strategic error".
"Russia regrets that the UN Security Council did not manage to adopt the draft resolution," Russia's envoy to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said after the vote late on Tuesday.
"We consider this a strategic error," he told the council in footage broadcast by the Rossiya 24 state news channel.
The Russian ambassador accused Washington of "monopolising" peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as of bringing the negotiations "to a dead end"
Russia was among eight countries that backed the controversial resolution setting a 12-month deadline for Israel and the Palestinians to reach a final peace deal, one short of the nine required for it to pass
Australia and the United States voted against, while the other five council members abstained.