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As the Financial Times reports, EU leaders on Thursday rounded on Russia and Iran, blaming them for the carnage in Aleppo as France pressed the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution to support the evacuation of civilians from the stricken Syrian city and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

But frustration with the UN was laid bare by Angela Merkel, German chancellor, as she said there was “no lack of will nor of money” to protect Syrian civilians.

“We are dealing with a failure of the UN Security Council,” the chancellor said as she accused the Kremlin and Tehran of “crimes” that “must be avenged” for supporting the Syrian government forces in their recapture of Aleppo.

François Hollande, French president, said diplomats were working overnight on the text of a draft UN resolution on the humanitarian situation in Aleppo to be presented to the Security Council on Friday.

Paris wants international observers under UN surveillance to monitor evacuations and deliveries of aid, in the hope that such measures would help create conditions for a lasting ceasefire leading to peace talks.

Russia and Iran had spurned previous attempts to settle the Syrian conflict, Mr Hollande said. “A political solution was not possible because of the Russian veto. Each and every time we proposed a solution it was rejected and there was no possibility to negotiate.

“It’s Russia and also Iran that did not wish such a political process. They wanted to crush, to destroy the opposition and also maintain this confusion between terrorist groups and opposition groups or rebels.”

Theresa May, British prime minister, called on the Assad regime to permit the UN to ensure evacuations from the city. “President Assad and his backers, Russia and Iran, bear responsibility for the tragedy in Aleppo. They must now allow the United Nations to ensure the safe evacuation of the civilians who are left there.”