Biden threatened Russia with further isolation.
The US Vice President Joseph Biden warned Russia against non-compliance with Minsk agreements. According to the Associated Press, he said this during a joint press conference with the President of Ukraine in Kiev.
According to his words, the US will continue to increase pressure on Russia if it continues its policy regarding the conflict in eastern Ukraine. “Russia will pay an even greater price and will be isolated” - he stated. At the same time Biden did not exclude that if Russia fulfills its obligations and respects the sovereignty of Ukraine, “rational discussions about the fate of sanctions” may begin, as “Interfax” noted.
The US Vice-President also said that international partners, including the IMF, will continue to provide financial support to Kiev, as Reuters reports. According to him, the course of the Ukrainian authorities for carrying out reforms can serve as a guarantee. However, he did not reveal the exact amount of financial assistance. At the same time TASS, referring to the White House notice circulated on November 21, reported that the United States promised to provide additional financial assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $ 23 million. 20 million of them will be aimed at the reform of the judicial system and law enforcement agencies. Another 3 million will be spent on food rations.
Russia has repeatedly opposed the military confrontation in eastern Ukraine. In particular, Moscow speaks in favor of a comprehensive dialogue involving all regions, as well as of the implementation of Minsk agreements (the Ukrainian authorities and the representatives of the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics agreed to a ceasefire and exchange of war prisoners in early September,). The Russian Foreign Ministry also said they were not going to beg the West to lift sanctions.
Author: Anna Dorozhkina