Sen. Ed Markey Edward (Ed) John MarkeyMassachusetts town clerk resigns after delays to primary vote count Bogeymen of the far left deserve a place in any Biden administration Senate Democrats urge Amazon to recall, stop sales of explosive products MORE (D-Mass.) said Sunday the Trump administration should work toward a cease-fire in Syria before going to the “negotiating table” to find a more permanent political solution in the war-torn nation.

Markey said on CNN's "State of the Union" that the U.S. should first hold back the Russian company that sells weapons to Syria with sanctions.

He said the White House should then put pressure on the Kremlin to honor its commitment to "remove all chemical weapons from Syria," which it has not done.

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Next, Markey said the Trump administration should work with Iran and Turkey to implement a cease-fire in Syria and come to an agreement about distributing humanitarian aid throughout Syria.

“Finally, that they go to the negotiating table and try to find a political resolution with [Syrian President Bashar] Assad, with all other parties at the table,” Markey said.

“In order to find a negotiated settlement, we must negotiate with the Syrian government, and only way we can do that if all parties, including the opposition, and ensuring it results in a government that all parties can live with,” he added.

Markey offered his recommendations in response to United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who on Sunday said Assad must be removed from power before there can be peace and stability in the country.

Markey said Haley’s goal for a regime change would require the deployment of additional U.S. ground troops, which would require congressional approval.

Haley, who praised President Trump’s decision to launch missiles against Syria, said further military action is possible.