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U.S. Biden voices support for Ukraine, denounces Russia's Putin

22 November 2014 01:21 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Friday condemned Russia's behavior in Ukraine as "unacceptable" and urged Moscow to abide by a September peace deal and pull military forces out of the country, APA reports quoting Reuters.

Addressing himself rhetorically to Russian President Vladimir Putin after holding talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Biden said: "Do what you agreed to do, Mr. Putin."

The high-level U.S. visit to Kiev took place with diplomatic efforts stalled on ways of restarting the peace deal signed by Ukraine, Russia and pro-Moscow separatists fighting in the east.

Ukraine and Western powers have accused Russia of backing the separatists and sending in its own troops - allegations dismissed by Moscow.

Both sides have also accused each other of violating the ceasefire and Ukraine said on Friday that its territory had come under cross-border artillery fire from inside Russia for the first time since the truce came into force.

Biden's visit to Kiev took place on the first anniversary of the decision by the government of Ukraine's then president Viktor Yanukovich to ditch a political and trade pact with the European Union in favor of renewed ties with Russia.

The move provoked protests from tens of thousands of Ukrainians and led to the ousting of the Moscow-backed Yanukovich. It triggered the worst confrontation between Russia and the West since the Cold War after Russia annexed Crimea in March and backed the eastern separatists.