Washington, Russia has assured America that it
will not invade Ukraine, with the US warning that continued aggression would
isolate the country further and result in more "diplomatic and economic
pressure".
US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, who made a
call to his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoygu yesterday, also "emphasised
that any diplomatic engagement must include the government of Ukraine". "Hagel repeated his call
for an end to Russia's destabilising influence inside Ukraine and warned that
continued aggression would further isolate Russia and result in more diplomatic
and economic pressure," Pentagon Press Secretary, Rear Admiral John Kirby,
said.
According to Kirby, the two leaders discussed a
wide range of issues related to the situation in Ukraine and "Shoygu
reiterated his assurance that Russian forces would not invade Ukraine. Hagel
emphasised how dangerous the situation remains and expressed his desire to find
a responsible way forward." During the call, Hagel requested clarification
of Russia's intentions in Eastern Ukraine. "Hagel
noted that implementation of the agreement made on April 17 in Geneva would
represent progress," Kirby said. "Regarding
recent actions by Ukrainian security forces, Hagel reiterated the right of the
Government of Ukraine to preserve law and order within its own borders.
"He went on to ask his Russian counterpart
for Russia's assistance in securing the release of the seven inspectors from
the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe currently being held in
Eastern Ukraine, Kirby said. Earlier
in the day, Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham said the Obama
Administration's latest round of sanctions is "days late and dollars
short". "While a unified US and European response
to Russia's aggression is ideal, the current policy has become a reduction to
the lowest common denominator," they said.
"If we are now forced to choose between
alliance unity or meaningful action, we must choose action, and America must
lead it," the Senators said. McCain and Graham said, the US needs to
correct the disturbing mismatch between Russia's actions and our weak response
to it.
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