Washington, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) released the following statement in response to the plan unveiled in Munich for a “cessation of hostilities” in Syria:

“Secretary Kerry is right: these are just words on paper.  If Vladimir Putin was serious about reaching a diplomatic solution, he would stop his disgraceful bombing campaign immediately.  Instead, Russian warplanes resumed strikes on Aleppo within hours of the announcement in Munich.  And Russia has made clear it will continue to target anyone who does not support the murderous Assad regime. 

“At this moment, Aleppo is teetering.  Russia’s bombing of U.S.-backed moderate opposition forces, as well as schools, markets, and hospitals, continues to open the way for ISIS to make gains elsewhere.  The Obama administration must work with our allies and partners to compel Russia to abide by the U.N. resolution – which it voted for – to end attacks on civilians.  If we are going to truly defeat ISIS, and we must, the half-measures and indecisiveness must stop.”

 

###