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President Barack Obama said a deal Thursday to de-escalate tensions in Ukraine was a "glimmer of hope" but cautioned he could not be sure if Russia would live up to it.Obama, in a careful response to the apparent breakthrough in Geneva, said he was coordinating with leaders in Europe about further sanctions against Moscow if progress was not evident within days.
"I don't think we can be sure of anything at this point. I think there is the possibility, the prospect, that the diplomacy may de-escalate the situation," Obama told reporters after four-way crisis talks in Switzerland between the US, Russia, Ukraine and the EU.
He called for an end to what he said was interference by Russia in eastern and southern Ukraine, where Washington has accused the Kremlin of backing pro-Moscow separatists who seized government buildings.
"We are not going to count on it until we see it," Obama warned.
In Geneva, the four parties agreed on steps to "restore security for all citizens," including a call to disband armed groups that have taken over buildings in Ukraine "illegally."
Obama made clear that if the West did not see action on those commitments, new sanctions would follow.
"We have put in place additional consequences that we can impose on the Russians if we do not see actual improvement of the situation."
Obama said he had discussed future measures with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and planned to speak to British Prime Minister David Cameron later.
"We're going to prepare additional responses should Russia fail to take a different course," said Obama.
"We've already had an impact on their economy. That is well-documented. It could get significantly worse."
[dailystar.com.lb]
17/4/14
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- « J’espère que nous verrons une application de l’accord dans les prochains jours, mais je ne pense pas qu’on puisse compter dessus, étant donné ce qu’on a vu dans le passé », a déclaré le président américain.
L’accord conclu à Genève entre les États-Unis, la Russie, l’Union européenne et l’Ukraine prévoit notamment le désarmement des groupes armés illégaux et l’évacuation des bâtiments occupés. La mission de surveillance de l’Organisation pour la Sécurité et la Coopération en Europe (OSCE) sera chargée d’aider les autorités ukrainiennes à mettre en œuvre ces mesures.
Évoquant en outre « le geste d’intimidation » des forces russes massées près de la frontière avec l’Ukraine, Barack Obama voit « la main de la Russie » derrière le « chaos » actuel dans l’est et le sud de l’Ukraine.
« Mais la Russie a l’occasion de changer d’approche. Nous les encourageons à le faire », a-t-il déclaré..................[lesoir.be]
18/4/14
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US President Barack Obama has cautiously welcomed a deal to calm tensions in Ukraine, reached at multi-party talks in Geneva....
ReplyDeleteHe said the US and its allies were ready to impose new sanctions on Russia if the situation failed to improve.
Russian, Ukrainian, EU and US foreign ministers agreed that illegal military groups in Ukraine should leave places they have been occupying.
Russia denies fomenting separatism in eastern and southern Ukraine........http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27075713
18/4/14
Obama Rules Out Military Option in Ukraine...
ReplyDeleteWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has expressed hope that a plan to de-escalate tensions in Ukraine, reached Thursday in Geneva, will lead to restoration of peace and security for all citizens of Ukraine. Obama told reporters in Washington that if Russia fails to take steps to defuse the crisis in eastern Ukraine, the United States and Europe will respond with tough measures, but he ruled out a military intervention.
Obama said the sanctions already imposed on Russia have had a documented impact on its economy, and that additional measures could make the situation worse.
"But we don't have an interest in hurting ordinary Russians just for the sake of it. Our strong preference would be for Mr. Putin to follow through on what is a glimmer of hope coming out of these Geneva talks, but we are not going to count on it until we see it," said Obama.......http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-rules-out-military-option-in-ukraine/1895996.html
18/4/14
Kiev’s authorities have heard Moscow’s stance about the need of a nationwide discussion over a draft constitution involving representatives from Ukrainian regions......
ReplyDeleteUkrainian parliament-appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Deshchytsia said this at a news conference on Friday dedicated to the results of the Thursday four-party meeting on the Ukrainian settlement in Geneva.
“We are beginning to discuss a constitutional reform and invite all to take part in this discussion, including representatives from regions, what the Russian partners insisted on,” he said, when asked about Ukraine’s concessions to Russia during the talks. “Russia thinks that we should have a wide discussion of the draft constitution,” he said and added that Ukraine was fully aware too that the constitutional reform should be subject to general discussion.
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/728688
18/4/14