US considers more Russia sanctions

By M. Bilal Kenasari

WASHINGTON

The U.S. said Wednesday that it is watching if the Minsk agreement between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists is implemented, and indicated further sanctions will be imposed on Russia if the deal is violated. 

Victoria Nuland, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee while Republican and Democratic members continued to pressure the White House to support Ukraine with weapons to defend itself against pro-Russian separatists attacks.

"We do have concerns now about new firing on the ground in the last couple of days," she said, adding, "I do think that the environment on whether this is implemented will affect the calculus both on the sanctions side and on the security support side."

She also said it is that any additional sanctions be “in line with Europe … if Minsk is further violated or if there is a further land grab."

Despite the Feb. 12 deal reached between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine to halt the fighting, Nuland said that there have been 100 violations of the Minsk cease-fire agreements. 

She said separatists have ignored the agreement, and Crimea and eastern Ukraine have suffered a reign of terror.

“In eastern Ukraine, Russia and its separatist puppets have unleashed unspeakable violence and pillage,” Nuland said. “Hundreds and hundreds of Russian heavy weapons and troops have lured across the border, a commercial airliner was shot down this summer, Donetsk airport was obliterated, Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchanko languishes in a Moscow jail on day 82 of her hunger strike and the city of Debaltseve – outside the Minsk cease-fire lines fell to separatists six days after the Feb. 12 Minsk agreement was signed.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected the accusation that Moscow is arming rebels in Ukraine, but the U.S. embassy in Russia posted a series of satellite images that allegedly showed Russian military equipment in Ukraine, despite the stipulation in the agreement that both sides withdraw heavy weapons from eastern Ukraine beginning Feb. 17.

At least 4,707 victims have been killed and 10,322 wounded in the conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine since  last April, according to the UN.