DHAKA: US president Barack Obama on Sunday said new international sanctions set to come into force against Russia would send a message that it must stop its ‘provocations’ in eastern Ukraine.

‘It is important for us to take further steps sending a message to Russia that this kind of destabilising activity taking place in Ukraine has to stop,’ Obama said at a press conference in Malaysia.

The Straits Times publishes this report.

BDST: 1441 HRS, APR 27, 2014