U.S. can intensify pressure on Russia over its aggression in Ukraine

Official Washington will not ease sanctions against Russia and, if necessary, will be able to increase pressure on Moscow if the Russian side does not stop the occupation of Crimea and its aggression in eastern Ukraine.

A representative of the U.S. delegation said this at a meeting of the UN Security Council regarding Crimea on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"The United States will maintain and, if necessary, intensify pressure on Moscow until it withdraws its troops and weapons from Ukraine," the U.S. diplomat said.

She stresses that there is no sense to discuss the easing of sanctions while Russia does not show that it is ready to take concrete steps to resolve the crisis in Ukraine.

The U.S. representative underlines that the United States will continue to fully support the sovereignty of Ukraine.

"The sanctions related to Crimea will remain in force until Russia regains full control over the peninsula to Ukraine," she said.

The U.S. representative says that Russia has only one way - to fulfill international obligations and to stop the occupation of Crimea and its aggression in eastern Ukraine.

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