The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly condemns the airstrikes and shelling targeting aid convoy, carried out northwest of Aleppo on September 19, 2016. This has led to innocent casualties among civilians and humanitarian personnel, as well as halting all vital UN humanitarian aid deliveries to besieged areas in Syria. We also express our condolences to families of the victims and hope for a rapid recovery of the injured.

We call on all sides to comply strictly with their obligations under international humanitarian law and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Ukraine is alarmed by the latest escalation of the situation in Syria which can undermine all efforts of the international community towards peaceful settlement of the Syrian conflict and put on the brink of collapse the fragile ceasefire in the country.

It is particularly unacceptable that the Syrian regime has unilaterally called off the ceasefire which was settled on September 12. This is yet another proof that President Assad, with direct support of his allies, including first and foremost the Russian Federation, is not seeking to negotiate a settlement of the conflict, instead, trying to undermine the ongoing efforts and impose a military solution.

We call on once again all sides involved to work towards resumption of the political process in Syria aimed at establishing a credible, inclusive transitional governing body followed by a new constitution and elections, in full compliance with the 2012 Geneva communiqué and UN Security Council resolution 2254.