Speaking in London before talks with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, Kerry told reporters the U.S. and its allies are not going to go along with what he said was Russia's "extraordinarily craven behavior." He noted Russia has led an effort in the United Nations to place responsibility for unrest in eastern Ukraine on the Ukrainian government, while continuing what Kerry called "land-grabbing" in that region.
"There is no secret to any of us, not in this age of all kinds of visibility and technical means and satellites and the ability to watch what people are doing," he said. "We know to a certainty what Russia has been providing to the separatists, how Russia is involved with the separatists and the ways in which Russia has cynically been willing to go to, even lead an effort in the U.N., even simultaneously as it is continuing to do land-grabbing in Ukraine."
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko accused the Kremlin Friday of direct involvement in the sniper deaths of anti-Russian protesters last year in Kyiv's Maidan Square.
He made the charge on the first anniversary of the killings, saying Ukraine's security services have the evidence.
The Russian foreign ministry called the accusation "ravings" and "madness."
The White House, French President Francois Hollande, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel all warned on Friday that Moscow faces higher costs and more isolation if Russian-backed separatists continue violating the cease-fire in eastern Ukraine signed last week.
The separatists and the Ukrainian government accuse each other of cease-fire violations, including this week's rebel takeover of the important railroad town of Debaltseve.
A Ukrainian military spokesman said pro-Russian separatists repeatedly fired on Ukrainian positions overnight Thursday into Friday.
He also said Russia is still moving military equipment into Ukraine, including tanks in the direction of Novoazovsk, a rebel-held town near Mariupol.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden spoke by telephone Friday with President Poroshenko and Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. The White House said Biden agreed with both leaders that Russia cannot keep hiding behind the false claim that local separatists are solely responsible for the latest military moves in eastern Ukraine. [voanews.com]
21/2/15
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The US and Britain are considering deepening sanctions against Russia due to its "craven behaviour" in Ukraine, Secretary of State John Kerry said before talks with British counterpart Philip Hammond in London on Saturday...
ReplyDelete"We are talking about additional sanctions, additional efforts," Kerry told reporters.
"We're not going to sit there and be part of this kind of extraordinarily craven behaviour at the expense of the sovereignty and integrity of a nation."
afp
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/123567.aspx
21/2/15
US to consider new Russia sanctions ...
ReplyDeleteWashington is considering "serious sanctions" against Russia following the recent events in the eastern Ukraine conflict, US Secretary of State John Kerry has said.
During a visit to London, Mr Kerry said Mr Obama would make a decision on the options before him in the coming days.
He accused Moscow of "craven behaviour" in its support for the rebels, undermining a ceasefire.
But a Kremlin spokesman said sanctions would not help solve Ukraine's crisis.
The ceasefire, agreed this month in Minsk, has often seemed near collapse.
However, a prisoner exchange has been carried out on the front line - the first stage of one of the key points of the deal.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko tweeted that 139 Ukrainian troops had been freed. Media reports say 52 rebels were exchanged for them.
Ukrainian officials said one more soldier would be freed in the coming days........http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31567126
21/2/15
Un total de 139 soldats ukrainiens et 52 combattants rebelles retenus prisonniers ont été échangés samedi dans l'Est séparatiste de l'Ukraine....
ReplyDeleteL'échange, qui a eu lieu sur la ligne de front dans la région de Lougansk, est une nouvelle étape dans l'application des accords de Minsk 2, qui prévoient la libération de "tous les prisonniers et otages" retenus par les deux camps depuis le début du conflit en avril dernier...................http://www.rtl.be/info/monde/europe/ukraine-echange-de-prisonniers-rebelles-et-ukrainiens-sur-la-ligne-de-front-dans-l-est-702500.aspx
21/2/15