Obama hopeful but sceptic on Ukraine deal

US President Barack Obama has said he is hopeful of a de-escalation in the volatile situation in Ukraine following a surprise deal in Geneva but conveyed scepticism if Russia would uphold its commitments.
"I do not think we can be sure of anything at this point. I think there is the possibility, the prospect that diplomacy may deescalate the situation and we may be able to move towards what has always been our goal, which is let the Ukrainians make their own decisions about their own lives," Obama told reporters after four-way crisis talks between the US, Russia, Ukraine and the EU in Geneva.

Obama said the promising statement issued after the lengthy and vigorous conversation indicated the need to disarm all irregular forces and militias and groups that have been occupying buildings.
"There was an offer of amnesty to those who would willingly lay down their arms, evacuate those buildings, so that law and order could be restored in eastern and southern Ukraine," he said.
"The Russians signed on to that statement. And the question now becomes will, in fact, they use the influence that they have exerted in a disruptive way to restore some order so that Ukrainians can carry out an election, move forward with the decentralisation reforms that they have proposed, stabilise their economy, and start getting back on the path of growth and democracy and that their sovereignty will be respected," he said.

"We are not going to know whether, in fact, there is follow-through on these statements for several days," Obama said.

"My hope is that we actually do see follow-through over the next several days. But I do not think given past performance that we can count on that, and we have to be prepared to potentially respond to what continue to be efforts of interference by the Russians in Eastern and Southern Ukraine."
"If, in fact, we do see improvements, then that will obviously be a positive," he added.
The US President ruled out any military option in Ukraine and blamed Russia for fomenting unrest in the region.

"I have been very clear that military options are not on the table in Ukraine because this is not a situation that would be amenable to a clear military solution," Obama said.