US Praises Ukraine Deal; Calls For Concrete Action

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is praising an agreement between Ukraine's president and the opposition to end violence and says it should be implemented immediately.

White House press secretary Jay Carney says the U.S. offers its support and that the deal is consistent with what Washington was advocating. Carney says the U.S. will closely monitor whether there is concrete action to implement it.

Ukraine's parliament voted to give protesters amnesty and restore a previous constitution that limits presidential powers as part of an agreement signed Friday. The deal is aimed at ending a three-month political crisis that exploded this week into deadly violence.

Carney says the U.S. commends the courageous opposition leaders. He says the U.S. remains ready to impose more sanctions if necessary to hold accountable those responsible for violence.

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