U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, in a telephone conversation with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko promised to toughen sanctions against Russia.
The vice president noted that the United States, together with its partners, takes effort to raise the price that Russia would have to pay should its current course about the south-east of Ukraine continue, a statement from the White House said.
According to Biden, Russia does not use its influence on the militia of Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine to stop "violence on the part of separatists" and continues to send weapons and military personnel to the region.
Biden also supported Poroshenko's efforts in restoring peace and order in the east of Ukraine and expressed condolences over the death of the Ukrainian military men, Interfax reports.