PRESS RELEASE

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Obama and Biden Promised Yatsenyuk Continuing Sanctions Against Russia

July 14, 2015 (EIRNS)—During his meeting with visiting Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk at the White House today, Vice President Joe Biden

"underscored the resolve of the United States and its G7 partners to continue pressing Russia to fully implement the Minsk agreements, including return of the Ukrainian side of the international border to Ukrainian control, as well as the withdrawal of all Russian soldiers and weapons from Ukraine. The Vice President also noted that the United States and its G7 allies stand ready to impose significant additional sanctions if necessary to respond to Russia’s actions,"

the White House readout said. While Biden was meeting with Yatsenyuk, President Obama dropped by to underscore the message.

In addition, Obama and Biden backed the Kiev "government’s strong stand against populist measures that could undermine Ukraine’s financial stability," Interfax-Ukraine reported citing the White House statement. Last February, the International Monetary Fund approved a $40 billion bailout package for Ukraine. In exchange for the bailout package, Kiev has promised to slash energy subsidies, restructure its banks, and implement more measures to tackle corruption, while protecting the poorest households.

Earlier, Yatsenyuk met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken, a member of the virulently anti-Russia cabal within the Obama administration. According to Interfax-Ukraine, "the parties discussed a wide range of issues concerning first of all Ukraine’s security, peace and protection, its territorial integrity and independence."