Mediaboss Marketing

President Obama offered cautious optimism Friday about a newly announced cease-fire between Ukraine and Russia and suggested that European leaders should proceed with plans to impose new sanctions against Russia until they've tested that the agreement holds.

We are hopeful but based on past experience also skeptical, Obama told reporters at a news conference as the NATO summit wrapped up. It has to be tested.

NATO Secretary-GeneralAndersFoghRasmussenechoed Obama's wariness about the cease-fire announcement.

We know that one thing is a declaration, another thing is implementation," he said. "Nevertheless, I would welcome, of course, if the new announcement of the cease-fire represents a sincere attempt to stop the violence and initiation of a constructive political process.

Obama noted that European leaders were finalizing details of a new package of economic penalties aimed punishing Moscow for its involvement in the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine. Obama said he believes the sanctions are working to shift Russian President Vladmir Putins strategy and that it was too soon to ease up on them.

The only reason that were seeing this cease-fire at this moment is because of the sanctions already applied and the threat of further sanctions, Obama said.

Still, he suggested that if Russia de-escalates the conflict, the West could roll back sanctions.

White House officials say the new round of economic penalties, which have been in the pipeline since last week, could be announced in the coming days. Meanwhile, NATO leaders pledged new support for the Ukrainian military before concluding the two-day summit.

Russia must continue to face costs for its own escalation, deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes said. If Russia escalates, we stand prepared to escalate our pressure."

The expected sanctions are a response to what Ukraines leaders have called a Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine, although Obama has not used that word. The conflict consumed much of the discussion at the biennial summit, overshadowing the long-planned talks on winding down the NATO presence in Afghanistan.

Read more from the original source:
Obama offers cautious optimism on announced cease-fire in Ukraine