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| Obama and E.U. Leaders Agree to Keep Sanctions on Russia | Obama and E.U. Leaders Agree to Keep Sanctions on Russia |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BERLIN — President Obama and several European leaders “unanimously agreed” on Friday to keep sanctions in place against Russia for its intervention in Ukraine, amid concern that President-elect Donald J. Trump would soften the United States’ stance against Moscow. | BERLIN — President Obama and several European leaders “unanimously agreed” on Friday to keep sanctions in place against Russia for its intervention in Ukraine, amid concern that President-elect Donald J. Trump would soften the United States’ stance against Moscow. |
| The show of solidarity came as American allies — and Ukrainians themselves — have been unsettled by uncertainty regarding what kind of foreign policy Mr. Trump will pursue. | The show of solidarity came as American allies — and Ukrainians themselves — have been unsettled by uncertainty regarding what kind of foreign policy Mr. Trump will pursue. |
| With surging populist movements straining alliances and Mr. Trump’s election upending the political calculations of many countries, Ukraine may be among the most vulnerable to the shifting political winds. | With surging populist movements straining alliances and Mr. Trump’s election upending the political calculations of many countries, Ukraine may be among the most vulnerable to the shifting political winds. |
| Fighting in Ukraine has continued since Moscow stealthily fomented an uprising among ethnic Russians in eastern Ukraine with the help of undercover Russian forces, and then annexed Crimea in March 2014. | Fighting in Ukraine has continued since Moscow stealthily fomented an uprising among ethnic Russians in eastern Ukraine with the help of undercover Russian forces, and then annexed Crimea in March 2014. |
| As a candidate and as president-elect, Mr. Trump has frequently expressed admiration for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, and a former Trump campaign manager, Paul Manafort, previously worked for a former Ukrainian president, Viktor F. Yanukovych, who is now exiled in Russia. | |
| Meeting in Berlin, Mr. Obama and the European leaders agreed that the sanctions should stay until Moscow upheld its pledge for a cease-fire and to withdraw heavy weapons from front lines in eastern Ukraine, according to the White House. | Meeting in Berlin, Mr. Obama and the European leaders agreed that the sanctions should stay until Moscow upheld its pledge for a cease-fire and to withdraw heavy weapons from front lines in eastern Ukraine, according to the White House. |
| Those in attendance on Friday included the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the French president, François Hollande, as well as the prime ministers of Britain (Theresa May), Italy (Matteo Renzi) and Spain (Mariano Rajoy). | Those in attendance on Friday included the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the French president, François Hollande, as well as the prime ministers of Britain (Theresa May), Italy (Matteo Renzi) and Spain (Mariano Rajoy). |
| The agreement on Ukraine followed remarks by Mr. Obama on Thursday warning Mr. Trump to “stand up” to Moscow when it violated international agreements. | The agreement on Ukraine followed remarks by Mr. Obama on Thursday warning Mr. Trump to “stand up” to Moscow when it violated international agreements. |
| Ms. Merkel also reminded Russia that peace in Europe had been possible over the past several years only because all nations respected the boundaries drawn up after World War II. | Ms. Merkel also reminded Russia that peace in Europe had been possible over the past several years only because all nations respected the boundaries drawn up after World War II. |
| Friday’s meeting concluded a weeklong visit to European allies by Mr. Obama, whose terms ends in January. | Friday’s meeting concluded a weeklong visit to European allies by Mr. Obama, whose terms ends in January. |
| But what was supposed to be a valedictory lap turned into an exercise in calming anxieties about the future of trans-Atlantic relations spurred by the victory of Mr. Trump, who repeatedly called the NATO alliance into question during his election campaign. | But what was supposed to be a valedictory lap turned into an exercise in calming anxieties about the future of trans-Atlantic relations spurred by the victory of Mr. Trump, who repeatedly called the NATO alliance into question during his election campaign. |
| The American election result last week, coming on the heels of the British vote in June to leave the European Union, has intensified an existential crisis for the bloc. | The American election result last week, coming on the heels of the British vote in June to leave the European Union, has intensified an existential crisis for the bloc. |
| The group also discussed tensions in the Middle East, including the situation in Syria, the White House said. | The group also discussed tensions in the Middle East, including the situation in Syria, the White House said. |
| The leaders agreed that attacks on the besieged city of Aleppo should be halted immediately, and they called on Russia and Iran to halt their support for the government of President Bashar al-Assad. | The leaders agreed that attacks on the besieged city of Aleppo should be halted immediately, and they called on Russia and Iran to halt their support for the government of President Bashar al-Assad. |
| “On Syria, of course looking at Aleppo, we were united in our condemnation of the atrocities that are taking place there,” Mrs. May told reporters, standing alongside Ms. Merkel after Mr. Obama had departed. “We agreed the need to keep up pressure on Russia, including the possibility of sanctions on those who breach international humanitarian law.” | “On Syria, of course looking at Aleppo, we were united in our condemnation of the atrocities that are taking place there,” Mrs. May told reporters, standing alongside Ms. Merkel after Mr. Obama had departed. “We agreed the need to keep up pressure on Russia, including the possibility of sanctions on those who breach international humanitarian law.” |
| That consensus, too, was another potential point of departure from the incoming Mr. Trump, who has signaled that he may side with Russia in backing the Assad government against the opponents trying to unseat it, including the Islamic State. | That consensus, too, was another potential point of departure from the incoming Mr. Trump, who has signaled that he may side with Russia in backing the Assad government against the opponents trying to unseat it, including the Islamic State. |
| After the meeting in Berlin, Mr. Obama left Germany for Latin America on the next leg of his farewell tour. | After the meeting in Berlin, Mr. Obama left Germany for Latin America on the next leg of his farewell tour. |
| The previous evening, Mr. Obama had a traditional German meal of pork hocks, hosted by Ms. Merkel and her husband, Joachim Sauer. | The previous evening, Mr. Obama had a traditional German meal of pork hocks, hosted by Ms. Merkel and her husband, Joachim Sauer. |
| Several dinner guests were selected in recognition of their contribution to German-American relations, including the Argentine-born conductor Daniel Barenboim, the German coach of the United States men’s soccer team Jürgen Klinsmann, and the German film director Tom Tykwer. | Several dinner guests were selected in recognition of their contribution to German-American relations, including the Argentine-born conductor Daniel Barenboim, the German coach of the United States men’s soccer team Jürgen Klinsmann, and the German film director Tom Tykwer. |