Russia pressed again on Monday for other countries to provide the reconstruction funds needed for the Assad regime after Syria’s 89-month conflict.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (pictured) framed the latest pressure with complaints that the US is to blame for the failure of 6.6 million refugees — more than 25% of Syria’s pre-war population — to come back.

Speaking after talks with Lebanese counterpart Gibran Bassil, Lavrov accused Western countries of blocking UN aid.

In fact, the UN has said for years that difficulties lay with the Assad regime’s refusal to allow assistance to reach many parts of Syria, especially those under opposition control.

While pro-Assad offensives have reoccupied East Ghouta near Damascus and much of southern Syria this spring and summer, leading to Lavrov’s emphasis on reconstruction funds, the UN has said that it is still not safe for a mass return of refugees. Opposition groups, activists, and residents have spoken of people being detained and forcibly conscripted after the recapture of territory by pro-Assad offensives.

Lavrov also lashed out at the UN on Monday, saying its political affairs department sent out last year “a secret directive forbidding organizations belonging to the system from any project aimed at restoring the Syrian economy”. He specifically accused the UN cultural agency UNESCO of delaying the reconstruction of archaeological sites in the Roman-era city of Palmyra.

And he snapped at the UN refugee agency’s caution that it is too soon to talk about repatriation of refugees, saying the UNHCR should not be a “subsidiary of a group of Western countries”.

The Foreign Minister added that he protested in a phone conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres:

It’s inadmissible when a group of countries manipulates secretariats of international organisations, which are supposed to be unbiased and independent.

The UN was created on the basis of…equality of all countries. I strongly urge our Western partners to return to that principle and not try to covertly exploit international organisations.

On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin played the refugee card with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a meeting outside Berlin: “It’s important to help those areas that the refugees can return to. I think it’s in everyone’s interests, including Europe’s.”

Economic Challenges for Assad Regime

Russia and Iran have been the essential backers of the Assad regime throughout the conflict, but they are unable to provide the money needed for widespread reconstruction, especially with both countries facing their own economic difficulties.

Syria’s GDP has fallen about 75% during the conflict. The UN has estimated the damage at more than $388 billion.

Western countries have said that they are not willing to commit to major reconstruction efforts for areas under Assad regime control unless there is a plan for political transition.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, whose country has about 1 million registered Syrian refugees, said:

Lebanon supports the quick and safe return of Syrian refugees without any link to a political solution. The circumstances in Syria have changed and many areas are safe, and for that reason, there is no reason for the refugees to stay.