WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama on Monday agreed to hold off a controversial decision on sending arms to Ukraine until German-led efforts to broker a ceasefire with Russia are given a chance.Hosting Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House, Obama said he hoped she could reach a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end 10 months of bloodshed in eastern Ukraine, but warned more punitive measures are in the pipeline if that fails.Steep Western sanctions and low oil prices have crippled Russia’s economy but have so far failed to dissuade Putin’s government from backing Ukrainian separatists. Moscow denies …read more
Source: AsiaOne
