WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Poroshenko was elected president on May 25, 2014 with a clear majority, but on a reduced turnout. The previous democratically-elected president, Viktor Yanukovych, was forced from office in a violent coup in Kiev on February 21-22, 2014.
“The two leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining sanctions on Russia until it fully implements the Minsk agreements. [A]dditional significant sanctions would be necessary if Russia further escalates the conflict.”
Biden and Poroshenko discussed the current situation in eastern Ukraine and the Kiev government’s reform agenda, the statement said.
“The Vice President and President Poroshenko agreed that the path to economic growth requires moving forward with the implementation of comprehensive economic and rule of law reforms.”Since Kiev launched a military offense against the independence supporters of Donbass in April 2014, the United States and its allies have repeatedly claimed that Russia was responsible for the escalation of situation in Ukraine.
Western leaders imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia in 2014 over its alleged involvement in eastern Ukrainian conflict, which Moscow has firmly denied.
Both the United States and the European Union have made the duration of sanctions dependent on the full implementation of the February Minsk agreements on Ukraine reconciliation by the warring parties.
Moscow has firmly refuted the allegations as groundless.
