Nikki Haley, the US envoy to the United Nations, is characterizing Russia as skittish and isolated in the wake of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's deadly chemical weapon attack last week that killed scores of civilians, including children.
On Tuesday, US officials charged that Russia was trying to cover up the attack, and Haley said in an interview with CNN's Jamie Gangel that she thinks that Moscow "knew" about it beforehand. "I think that if you look at the fact that when this information came out, they were so quick to defend," Haley said. "They didn't look shocked, they didn't look surprised. They were so quick to defend. And then the evidence comes out and we see exactly what it is. And we know exactly what the environment was. Then you realize that..." "They knew what was going on?" Gangel asked. "I think that they knew, yes," Haley said. 
"I think they're nervous," Haley continued. "I think that they very much feel as if they've been weakened by Assad's actions and their cover up. They realize the international community didn't buy it and is not buying it. And they now have to figure out how to save face. We're giving them all the options to save face." "Russia is on an island, and they now have to decide whether they're going to stay on an island and lose anyone that's willing to work with them, or whether they're going to come back -- and not lose face -- and actually try and do something constructive," she said.
Haley reiterated that the administration would not commit to future military action there, but also did not rule it out. 

Source: QNA