As the Assad regime slaughters its way to victory on the ground in Syria, its partner Russia is using the United Nations to try to cut off crucial humanitarian aid to millions of innocent Syrians still living outside the government’s control. The Trump administration is trying — but so far failing — to stop Moscow’s sinister plan.

Last Friday, Russian and China vetoed a U.N. Security Council Resolution that would partially renew international authorization for cross-border routes allowing food, water and medicine to flow into the parts of Syria outside the control of the Syrian government. The routes, from Turkey, Iraq and Jordan, have enjoyed U.N. approval for the past six years.

But now Moscow is seeking to shut them down. The Russian government sees the Assad regime as winning the war and believes that denying food to people still resisting Assad’s rule is an effective way to help him.