More than a week since a ceasefire went into effect between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels, U.S. officials are reiterating their commitment to the diplomatic agreement all the while accusing Russia of violating it.
READ: Crisis diplomacy on display
At a congressional hearing on Wednesday afternoon, Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S. is monitoring the situation on the ground, and has a so-called “Plan B” to deploy if violations continue.
–
The key variable is whether Putin considers eastern Ukraine to be a strategic priority, and how far he’s willing to go to support the pro-Russian movement when doing so further alienates the U.S. and Europe.
“We have to be cognizant that if we arm the Ukrainians it could cause positive results, it could cause negative results,” Breedlove said. “But what we’re doing now is not changing the results on the ground.”
