The White House says it may be time for the world to "admit defeat" in its current approach to violence in Syria.

It's the clearest statement yet the Obama administration sees little hope for a ceasefire brokered by U.N. envoy Kofi Annan. Syrian forces are violating the ceasefire, but so far, other nations that back it have been unwilling to say it is dead.

White House press secretary Jay Carney says that if the Syrian regime keeps flouting the ceasefire, the United States and other nations should try other measures to pressure Syrian President Bashar Assad.

He said that would include a return to the U.N. Security Council.

The U.S. is not considering a military intervention in Syria now.