U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko smile at the media during a meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The Associated Press
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, on a last foreign trip before leaving office, has met with Ukraine's president and called on the impending Donald Trump administration to retain Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia.
Biden's comments Monday at a briefing with President Petro Poroshenko came after Trump indicated in a Times of London interview that he could end sanctions imposed in the aftermath Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea in return for a nuclear arms reduction deal.
"The Crimea-related sanctions against Russia must remain in place until Russia returns full control to the people of Ukraine," Biden said.
Other U.S. sanctions are connected to Russia's involvement in the separatist war in eastern Ukraine. Biden said that Russia must fulfill its obligations under the 2015 Minsk agreement on ending that conflict.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko shake hands during a joint press conference in in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)
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U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko give a joint statement to the press in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)
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U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko pose for a photo after a joint press conference in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)
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U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko go for talks during Biden's visit in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
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U.S. Vice President Joe Biden steps out from his car upon arriving to the Ukrainian Presidential office in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
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U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko smile at cameras during a meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
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U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko wave at the media during their meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
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U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, shakes hands with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman during a meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)
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U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman pose for a photo during a meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)
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U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman during a meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)
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