Biden, Ukraine leader press Russia sanctions for ‘irresponsible actions’

Vice President Biden told Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko that the U.S. will continue to press sanctions against Russia “for its deeply destabilizing and irresponsible actions in Ukraine.”

{mosads}In a phone call Friday, Poroshenko informed Biden that “Russia continued to supply heavy weapons and equipment to separatists, and that Ukrainian troops were increasingly coming under direct fire from Russia,” the White House said in a statement.

Poroshenko updated Biden on his conversations with the leaders of the Netherlands, Australia, and Malaysia regarding access to the Malaysia Airline crash site and his efforts to ensure an international investigation into the July 17 tragedy that killed nearly 300 passengers.

Although the U.S. is still investigating who fired the missile suspected of downing the plane, administration officials have said the artillery came from Russia.