Readout of the Vice President's Call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

Vice President Joe Biden spoke today with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to discuss the implementation of President Poroshenko's peace plan.  The Vice President welcomed Ukraine's unilateral declaration of a ceasefire on June 20 and expressed concern that separatist leaders have refused to reciprocate.  He also commended President Poroshenko's continued commitment to holding round-table discussions with civic leaders in eastern Ukraine, in accordance with his peace plan.  President Poroshenko informed the Vice President that Russian-backed separatists continued to attack Ukrainian forces, including with the use of artillery, following the ceasefire declaration.  The Vice President reiterated that the United States was working closely with its G-7 partners to prepare further economic sanctions against Russia if Moscow did not take actions as described in the G-7 Leaders declaration to stop the flow of arms and militants across the border and use its influence to publicly call on the separatists to lay down their arms.