Ukraine warns Trump about Russia
Treasury sanctions target those involved in Crimea takeover
The Trump administration greeted Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at the White House with the announcement of a new set of sanctions on Russia. Poroshenko warned Trump against dealings with Moscow.
In brief comments about his meeting with Poroshenko, Trump said the leaders had “some very, very good discussions.”
Ukraine is “a place that we’ve all been very much involved in,” he said.
As Poroshenko arrived at the White House, the Treasury Department said it is targeting 38 individuals and entities “involved in the ongoing conflict” with Ukraine over the Russian occupation of Crimea. Russia “annexed” the region of Ukraine in 2014 and has backed pro-Russian separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine. The Treasury sanctions list includes Ukrainian separatists and officials of the Russia government.
Poroshenko, who called the White House visit “a great pleasure,” said that discussing Russian President Vladimir Putin would be part of his agenda with Trump.
“It is very important that my meeting, as Ukrainian president, in the White House will take place earlier than the meeting of Putin,” Poroshenko said in a statement, adding that his goal would be to “provide information and leave no chance for injustice.”
Amid waves of tensions between the United States and Russia — including an investigation into Moscow’s alleged attempts to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign — there is no personal meeting scheduled between Trump and Putin, though the two leaders may meet at the Group of 20 summit in Germany in early July.
Poroshenko, who had a meeting scheduled with Vice President Pence, had a “drop-in” visit with Trump and national security adviser H.R. McMaster.
The talks took place amid investigations by congressional committees and a special counsel into whether there are links between Trump campaign associates and Russians who allegedly hacked Democratic Party officials during the presidential campaign.
During the campaign and since Trump’s inauguration, critics have accused him of being too supportive of Putin and expressed concern that he might unwind sanctions on Russia.
The Senate passed a bill that would hit Russia with more sanctions over its alleged election activities and limit Trump’s ability to undo penalties on Putin’s government, requiring a congressional review of any such action.
The Treasury Department said its actions Tuesday underscore the U.S. commitment to “maintain the strength of existing sanctions” as a step to resolve the Ukraine crisis — and the measures related to Crimea will not be lifted until Russia ends its occupation of the peninsula.
“These designations will maintain pressure on Russia to work toward a diplomatic solution,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. “This administration is committed to a diplomatic process that guarantees Ukrainian sovereignty, and there should be no sanctions relief until Russia meets its obligations.”
Later Tuesday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer affirmed that the United States wants Russia out of eastern Ukraine. “That’s part of the reason that there are sanctions,” he said.
The United States and Russia are also at odds over the Syrian civil war. Over the weekend, a U.S. fighter jet downed a Syrian warplane for the first time, an act Russia condemned as a “flagrant violation of international law.” Russia said it would treat U.S.-led coalition aircraft as targets if they drift into certain parts of Syrian airspace.
At the White House, Poroshenko thanked the United States for its support and said, “I’m absolutely confident that our effective coordination will bring the peace to our nation, to our land, and can support our territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
“You’ve been seeing it, and everybody has been reading about it,” Trump said of Ukraine.
“This administration is committed to a diplomatic process that guarantees Ukrainian sovereignty, and there should be no sanctions relief until Russia meets its obligations.” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin