A top U.S. diplomat accused pro-Russian rebels of committing a “land grab” in eastern Ukraine and vowed to impose additional sanctions against Moscow if violations of last week’s ceasefire agreement continue.
The remarks from Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken follow the rebel capture of the strategic town of Debaltseve last week after the fighters — accused by the U.S. of receiving weapons and money from Russia — ignored a European-brokered ceasefire that was supposed to take effect on Sunday, February 15.
“Look, Debaltseve was a land grab,” Blinken told a panel hosted by the Aspen Institute on Monday. “The separatists grabbed …read more
Source: Foreign Policy
