“This is going to be a bogus referendum, and the world knows it.”

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.N. Security Council met to consider a resolution reaffirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity and declaring Sunday’s scheduled referendum in Crimea invalid.  Russia vetoed the resolution.  U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement:

“The bottom line is a resounding condemnation of Russian aggression. Putin should think long and hard: there are no defenders of Moscow’s aggression.  This is going to be a bogus referendum, and the world knows it.”

Note:  On Tuesday, the House overwhelmingly passed H. Res. 499, authored by Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Eliot Engel, which condemns the violation of Ukrainian sovereignty by Russian forces, endorsing Russian sanctions and calling on the U.S. to promote increased gas exports to reduce Vladimir Putin’s leverage. 

###