On February 26, 2016, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution endorsing the Joint Statement of the United States and the Russian Federation on Cessation of Hostilities in Syria. According to a news report, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the agreement as “our best chance to end the brutal violence.” The resolution “demands that all parties to whom the cessation of hostilities applies . . . fulfil their commitments . . . and urges all Member States . . . to use their influence . . . to ensure fulfilment of those commitments and to support efforts to create conditions for a durable and lasting ceasefire.” The Council further “acknowledge[d] and welcome[d] that the forces of the Syrian Government and those supporting it . . . have accepted and committed to abide by the Terms of the Cessation of Hostilities, and as such are now parties to it” and expressed its hope that the cessation of hostilities will be “a step towards a lasting ceasefire and reaffirm[ed] the close linkage between a ceasefire and a parallel political process.” The resolution reaffirmed the Council’s “support for a Syrian-led political process facilitated by the United Nations . . . and urge[d] the representatives of the Syrian Government and the Syrian opposition to engage in good faith in these negotiations.” Finally, the resolution called “on the parties to immediately allow humanitarian agencies rapid, safe and unhindered access throughout Syria by most direct routes, allow immediate, humanitarian assistance to reach all people in need, in particular in all besieged and hard-to-reach areas, and immediately comply with their obligations under international law.”