ON CNN's 'Smerconish': Rep. Ed Royce Sees Sign Of Russian Coverup At Crash Site (Transcript)

In an interview with CNN’s Michael Smerconish, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) said, “I think what's happened is a rather poorly trained separatist group here probably have inadvertently shot down an airliner and are now trying to cover this up. And to that's the part you see on the ground today."

Royce added the downing of MH17 was a consequence of Russian actions and that "the reality is that looking at the situation on the ground right now, clearly, we need leadership. We need a strong position. And we need Europe to be with us on this."

Transcript:

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, HOST: Joining me now is Republican Congressman Ed Royce, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Congressman, yesterday, Ambassador Samantha Power told the U.N. Security Council that there was credible evidence that pro-Russian supporters and their Russian associates were responsible.

What additional information, if any, can you add to that question?

REP. ED ROYCE (R-CA), CHAIRMAN, FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: Well, we know from General Breedlove, who's the supreme commander for the NATO forces, that the Russians were training separatists on this -- on this equipment. And we also know that in the last few weeks, a tremendous amount of heavy equipment have come over the border, especially tanks, especially anti-aircraft weaponry and so forth, as the Russians step up their operation in the east.

They're -- they're panicked to move quickly because Poroshenko has been consolidating support in the east.

And so as people move toward the Ukrainian government, they are -- are rather desperate to -- to set back the advances being made by the Ukrainian elected government. And I think this is unfortunately an unforeseen consequence of that.

SMERCONISH: So to what...

ROYCE: What...

SMERCONISH: -- extent then does...

ROYCE: What we do know is they've shot down -- we -- we know this because they've shot down several Ukrainian planes. And I think what's happened is a -- a rather poorly trained separatist group here probably have inadvertently shot down an airliner and are now trying to cover this up. And to that's the part you see on the ground today.

SMERCONISH: To what extent does Vladimir Putin bear responsibility in light of what you've just told me?

ROYCE: Well, not only are -- not only are all the arms coming in across the border, several of the generals are actually -- or commanding officers -- are actually Russian. And in the meantime, the prisoners that are taken, the Ukrainians, there was a Ukrainian pilot, a female pilot with a distinguished record. She's being held in jail in Russia.

So you can see how it's being micromanaged from Russia. The KGB agents, or their current equivalent, are on the ground there.

I was in Eastern Ukraine and I -- in the neighboring state. And they told me about taking into custody Russians that were there to foment an uprising.

But the governor there, the civil society groups, the -- the women's groups, the different groups that we met with on the ground told us they wanted the Russians to butt out, that this was the Russian-speaking region, but they wanted to be part of Ukraine. And -- and frankly, Poroshenko has now put forward a plan which will allow, you know, local autonomy. It's just not going to be part of Russia.

And that's the part that's unacceptable, apparently, to Putin. And that's why he's stepping up the activity here of -- of pushing in this heavier equipment and -- and volunteers coming in from Russia to fight.

SMERCONISH: What's the appropriate U.S. response?

ROYCE: Well, I think the entire international community will begin to move in tandem now. The -- the degree of anger, you know, in East Asia, in -- in Europe, in Central Asia toward the downing of this jetliner probably will consolidate world opinion behind the peace plan put forward by -- by President Poroshenko in -- in Ukraine and put enormous pressure right now on the Russian government to back off.

If -- if -- if we can get a cease-fire there alone, that would help enormously, because that could help lead to the next stop, which, since Poroshenko is willing to meet with the separatists and give them this regional autonomy, there -- there -- there is, obviously, a ready solution to this. All that's required is that Russia quit putting arms into that -- into that region.

SMERCONISH: Congressman, this is already the stuff of fodder for domestic debate here in the United States, meaning it's being used for political purposes by critics of President Obama.

Do you think that's appropriate?

ROYCE: Well, you know, I -- I can remember the remarks of the former CIA director, who was concerned that when -- when we pulled out of Poland and the Czech Republic in terms of our intercept system that would defend that area against a launch from Iran, and defend the United States, the criticism he had at the time was that Putin will look at this, think we're weak and begin to -- begin to take aggressive action.

Now, who knows what's going on in -- in Putin's mind?

But the reality is that looking at the situation on the ground right now, clearly, we need leadership. We need a -- a strong position. And we need Europe to be with us on this. I think after this event and given Merkel's anger and the anger of others in Europe, I think it will solidify more support. But I think the president needs to get out, lead the international community. Let's get Putin to back down here. Let's get him to cease and desist on, you know, aiding and abetting this -- he's the only reason this -- this situation even exists, is the fact that Russian forces are ensconced right now in Eastern Ukraine. And they need to get out.

SMERCONISH: Congressman Ed Royce, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Thank you so much for your time.