Vice President Joseph R. Biden promised Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in a private conversation that the United State would not abandon its cause to clamp down on Russia for its recent aggressions into the region, leading to the annexation of Crimea.
He vowed that America, along with allied partners, would “impose further costs” on Russia if leaders there didn’t quit sending weapons to separatists across the border, NBC News reported.
Mr. Biden said the United States had already asked Russia to quit sending arms to eastern Ukraine — and that Russia was standing in defiance.
The White House released a short summary of the leaders’ talks, NBC News reported: “The vice president noted that the United States would work with our partners to impose further costs on Russia if it continued on its current course.”
The White House said Mr. Biden and Mr. Poroshenko also promised to “stay in touch” in the lead-up to the European Union meeting on June 27, NBC News reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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