President mulls increasing pressure on Russia for Ukraine

The United States is “deeply troubled by Russia’s activities” in Ukraine, and President Obama may discuss additional ways to pressure Moscow toward deescalation during a meeting with European leaders later this week, the White House said Tuesday. 

Deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said reports that Russia was sending large convoys of heavy weapons and tanks into Eastern Ukraine was “particularly alarming.” 

{mosads}Rhodes said the provision of arms was in “complete violation of the spirit” of a ceasefire agreement between Kiev and Moscow, and that continued provocations were a “recipe” for isolation from the international community. 

He added that the situation would “certainly come up” at the G-20 meeting later this week in Australia, and that the U.S. and European leaders had established a “pattern of imposing consequences on Russia when we see escalation.” 

The comments came as President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin again seemed to be intentionally avoiding one another at the site of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.  

The two leaders were spotted walking together through the International Convention Center at Yanqi Lake, where the conference was being held, but hardly spoke according to officials on both sides. That came a day after the two men exchanged pleasantries but otherwise avoided policy discussion during a welcoming ceremony for Pacific leaders. 

Meanwhile, Vice President Biden spoke at length with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Monday, the White House said, assuring Kiev that the costs to Russia would increase if the provocations continued. 

“President Poroshenko informed the Vice President about Russia’s blatant escalation of the situation in eastern Ukraine, including increased shelling of Ukrainian government positions and the transfer of additional heavy weapons to the separatists,” the White House said in a statement. 

In Beijing, Rhodes said the U.S. was concerned that sanctions “have yet to sufficiently affect Russia’s calculus as it relates Ukraine.” 

At the same time, Rhodes said, “the sanctions are clearly succeeding and having an impact on the Russian economy.” He noted declines in the ruble against other currencies and the faltering Russian stock market. 

The “Russian economic picture is grim and getting grimmer because of the sanctions,” Rhodes said.