The U.S. State Secretary John Kerry has said that they expect Russian President Vladimir Putin to publicly call on pro-Russian fighters in Ukraine to lay down their arms and to take concrete steps to stop the flow of weapons and equipment across the border to Ukraine.
Speaking after a meeting of the foreign ministers of NATO member states in Brussels on June 25, he praised Putin’s decision to retract the law which empowered Russia to take action in Ukraine, but noted that “it could be reversed in 10 minutes.”
“The greatest difference will be made by the president publicly calling for the separatists to lay down their arms, by President Putin engaging his diplomatic service actively in the effort to help empty buildings, helping to get people to disarm, helping to convene the meetings that need to take place in order to negotiate and to move forward,” the press service of the U.S. Department of State quoted Kerry as saying.
“There are concrete actions – moving forces out, not allowing tanks and rocket launchers to actually cross the border,” he added.
In his words, Ukraine likewise can take steps in a mutual way. “President Poroshenko obviously has done so by unilaterally putting in place a ceasefire and by taking great political heat himself in doing so,” the state secretary said.
Kerry said the United States and Europe continue preparing tough economic sanctions for Russia, but expressed the hope that they will not have to be used.
