Ukraine: US warns Russia of tougher sanctions
Kiev/ Bucharest, May 21: The United States is sending another warship to the Black Sea to reassure its allies over Russia’s actions in Ukraine, where the country holds a crucial presidential election at the weekend.
Washington also said Tuesday there was no sign of a Russian withdrawal of troops from the edge of Ukraine, despite Moscow’s announcement of a pullout and suggestions from Kiev that there was no longer any visible military activity in the border zone.
“They are still in the tens of thousands,” Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby told reporters, announcing the dispatch of a guided missile cruiser to the region. “We have not seen any withdrawal activity.”
Tougher sanctions must be imposed on Russia if it undermines crucial elections in Ukraine on Sunday, US vice- president Joe Biden said Wednesday in Bucharest.
“If Russia undermines these elections on Sunday, we must remain resolute in imposing greater costs,” Mr Biden told reporters after meeting with Romanian President Traian Basescu. “All countries should use their influence to promote a stable environment for Ukrainian citizens to cast their ballots freely.”
Mr Biden also praised the pro- Western government in Kiev for its “steps to engage Ukrainians, from all parts of that country, in the east and the south, on issues of constitutional reform.” And he reassured Nato member Romania of Washington's commitment to Article Five of the alliance's charter, which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all. He said the pair had discussed “the ongoing and urgent efforts of the US and Nato to step up our military presence in Central and Eastern Europe in the air, on the sea and on the ground.”
Ahead of Sunday’s vote, Kiev’s Western- backed leaders are hosting a new round of national unity talks under a peace plan sponsored by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
But an earlier two rounds failed to make any progress, with the government pointedly refusing to invite the separatists who have seized over a dozen towns in the industrial eastern belt.
Tensions between Moscow and the West have spiralled to ColdWar highs over the crisis in Ukraine, particularly Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March and allegations it is driving the insurgency.
The US and Nato have sent troops to Poland and the three tiny Baltic nations to calm jitters about Russian troops possibly not only overrunning Ukraine but also pushing further into Europe in a bid to reclaim ex- Soviet satellite states. — AFP