12:25 18.07.2015

In case of escalation in Donbas costs for Russia will go up - Nuland

2 min read
In case of escalation in Donbas costs for Russia will go up - Nuland

If the situation in Donbas escalates, the U.S. is ready to step up pressure on Russia and the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics, Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland has said.

"We've made it clear that they will stay in place until Minsk is fully implemented, including an end to the violence, including a return of hostages, a return of the border. But we've also made clear that if the violence increases, we're prepared to put more pressure on Russia," she said in an interview with journalist Savik Shuster, which was aired on the Shuster Live political talk show on Friday night.

Nuland recalled that the United States provide military assistance to Ukraine. "The United States has contributed about $150 million dollars so far to security assistance – to training. We're training out in Yavoriv. Our hope is that we can use this pressure – the increased capability – to see Russia and those that they manage in Donetsk and Luhansk, implement the obligations that they’ve made. It not, the costs will go up," she said.

When asked if the cost Russia will have to pay will be economical or military, the U.S. assistant secretary of state said: "All of those are options, of course."

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