White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Tuesday said the United States will continue to sanction Russia until it stops backing separatists in eastern Ukraine.
“Would the President like to see Russia get out of eastern Ukraine, and does he see Moscow as the aggressor in this conflict?” Reuters reporter Jeff Mason asked Spicer during his daily briefing.
“I think we’ve been clear that yeah, I mean, obviously,” Spicer said. “That’s part of the reason there are sanctions.”
Spicer said the subject “obviously” came up during President Donald Trump’s discussion earlier Tuesday with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
“Until they are out of eastern Ukraine, we’re going to continue to have sanctions on Russia. We believe that that is a part of Ukraine,” Spicer said. “Those sanctions will remain.”
He did not address Russia’s 2014 annexation of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea, an act of aggression Trump also appeared to forget about while campaigning for President.
Uncle Vladdy’s gonna cut off your allowance, Donnie, for being a naughty puppet…
I seem to hear the pee tape screaming somewhere in the universe…
This is fine and well, but how many times has the president almost immediately contradicted Spicer now? I think it’s clear at this point that Spicer just says whatever will get him to the next question, whether he can speak for the administration or not. While I hope this is the White House’s position - or that they’ve at least developed some sort of serious policy re: Russia and Ukraine - I’m skeptical.
Feeling any buyer’s remorse, Vlad?
Let’s see what the House does with the Sanctions bill passed by the Senate last week. Then see if Trump signs it. Until then - whatever the “White House” says is just talk … not policy.