The U.S. will step up sanctions against Russia if Moscow "once again fails to abide by the Geneva Agreement," President Barack Obama warned Thursday from Japan.
"There was some possibility that Russia could take a wise recourse after the meeting in Geneva," Obama told a joint press meeting with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe.
"So far, at least we have seen them not abide by the spirit or the letter of the agreement in Geneva," Obama said.
Obama said pro-Russian militias and armed men still take over buildings in Ukrainian cities.
"My expectation is that if (Russia) once again fails to abide by the spirit or the letter of what was discussed in Geneva there would be further consequences and we will ramp up further sanctions," Obama said.
Russia, Ukraine, U.S. and the EU signed an agreement in Geneva, Switzerland last week, aimed at calming tensions in Ukraine. One of the key points of the agreement was the disarmament of militias and paramilitary units in the east of the country.
englishnews@aa.com.tr - Ankara
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