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Russian Federation must comply with Minsk Protocol or sanctions will continue: Kerry

But by those actions, Kosachev said, Ukraine only confirms its reputation of a country not capable of coming to agreements, which is unable to implement the Minsk Agreements.

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Kerry arrived in Ukraine on Thursday afternoon on the eve of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit, which will take place in Warsaw on July 8-9.

He said the worst fighting centred on the rebels’ de facto capital Donetsk and the southeastern government-held port city of Mariupol, which links separatist territories with the Russian-annexed Crimea peninsula.

On Tuesday, Kerry visited neighboring Georgia, where he signed an agreement to boost USA military cooperation and sent a not-so-subtle message to Russian Federation ahead of this week’s North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit in Poland.

Karasin said such activities by Ukraine could “nullify” efforts, including those made by the Normandy Quartet of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France, aimed at peacefully settling the Ukraine crisis. “There can not be a functional resolution if sustainable and comprehensive security is not guaranteed”, he said.

Renewed clashes between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine have left three soldiers dead. But the officials complain that Russian Federation and its proxies have not done their part on security matters, such as ensuring a cease-fire, withdrawing heavy weapons, providing full access to monitors and restoring Ukrainian control to border crossings.

Implementation of Minsk was one of several topics discussed in a phone call on Wednesday between Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin.

“We will assess the needs in terms of strengthening the defensive capability of Ukraine by supply of equipment and other assistance”, Kerry said. This announcement brings the total of US humanitarian assistance since the start of the crisis to more than $135 million.

“Ukraine is undeniably moving forward but I think we all agree that the job isn’t done and more has yet to be done to strengthen Ukraine’s democracy”, Kerry said.

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Kerry also lauded Ukraine’s efforts at judicial, legislative and economic moves, as well as a new anti-corruption program.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko meets with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Kyiv on July 7