US praises Ukraine deal, calls for action

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Friday praised an agreement between Ukraine’s president and the opposition to end violence and said it should be implemented immediately.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Friday praised an agreement between Ukraine’s president and the opposition to end violence and said it should be implemented immediately.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said the deal was consistent with what Washington was advocating, but added the U.S. will closely monitor whether there is concrete action to implement it.

President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the agreement, which is aimed at ending the monthslong standoff fueled by public anger that Ukraine was abandoning closer ties with Europe in favor of a deal with longtime ruler Russia.

The White House considered levying sanctions on officials in Ukraine responsible for stoking the violence, but Carney indicated the U.S. would hold off while monitoring the implementation of Friday’s accord.