European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said Thursday Russia must confront "the reality" of the violence in Syria.

European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said Thursday Russia must confront "the reality" of the violence in Syria.

"My message to my Russian colleagues is they too need to recognize the reality of the situation on the ground" in Syria, said Ashton, who was making a two-day visit to Mexico.

Ashton expressed "disappointment" with Russia's decision to veto a UN Security Council resolution -- proposed by Arab and European nations -- which aimed to back an Arab League plan for quelling the violence in Syria.
China also vetoed the measure.

The Arab League plan calls for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to hand over powers to a deputy so new elections can be held.