White House defends Russia foreign policy, amid criticism Putin goes undeterred

The White House on Sunday defended its foreign policy strategy on Russia, saying the international sanctions are hurting that country’s economy and has Russian citizens losing faith in President Vladimir Putin.

White House Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken said Russia’s financial markets are down 22 percent since the first of the year and that the ruble, Russia’s currency, hovers near all-time lows.

“What we're doing is bringing the world together to exert significant pressure on Russia,” he told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “The actions we've taken in response are undermining [Russia’s] influence, undermining its economic influence, undermining its geopolitical influence.”

Blinken defended the Obama administration’s strategy since Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula last month and as Putin continues to keep troops on the Ukraine-Russia border and send operatives across the border to destabilize Ukraine’s new, temporary government........[foxnews.com]
27/4/14