President Obama called Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday to discuss the escalating violence in eastern Ukraine and to urge Putin to accept a peaceful solution during extended diplomatic talks this week with French and German leaders.
Obama reiterated America’s support for the “sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” underscored the rising human toll of the fighting, and stressed the importance of Putin seizing the opportunity presented by ongoing discussions between Russia, France and Germany, according to a White House read-out of the phone call.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are traveling to Belarus for talks with Putin this week aimed at negotiating a ceasefire that will stick.
While the read-out of the phone call made no mention of Obama’s consideration of calls to send lethal aid to Ukraine, the president warned Putin that “the costs for Russia will rise” if Putin continues its “aggressive actions” in Ukraine.
Obama met with Merkel for several hours Monday and told reporters he backed continued diplomatic negotiations but is also considering imposing additional sanctions or sending weapons to Ukraine if the talks fail.
