Barack Obama has told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a tense phone call that Moscow “would face further costs for its actions in Ukraine and should use its influence to get separatists in the country to stand down. “
Armed pro-Russian separatists seized more buildings in eastern Ukraine, expanding their control after the government failed to follow through on a threatened military crackdown.
In a call on Monday night that the White House claims Moscow requested, the US president told Putin that those forces were threatening to undermine and destabilise the government in Kiev.
“The president emphasised that all irregular forces in the country need to lay down their arms, and he urged president Putin to use his influence with these armed, pro-Russian groups to convince them to depart the buildings they have seized,” the White House said in a statement.
“The president noted Russia’s growing political and economic isolation as a result of its actions in Ukraine and made clear that the costs Russia already has incurred will increase if those actions persist,” the White House said.
