Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad:

“Yesterday’s meeting in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is no surprise.  These two strongmen are surely planning further aggression by the Syrian regime against the moderate opposition forces.  Instead of sitting quietly as Assad flies to Moscow to thank his patron, the Administration must act more decisively to protect innocent Syrians and push Russia to stop bombing civilian areas.  If Putin truly wants to battle ISIS and bring peace to the country, he should join with the U.S. to remove Assad from power and end the suffering of the Syrian people.”

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