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Vice President Mike Pence said the Trump administration is very troubled by the increased hostilities over the past week in eastern Ukraine, but suggested the future of sanctions against Russia would ultimately hinge on how the Russians respond in the days ahead.

At least 33 people were killed last week in a surge of violence between Russia-backed rebels and government forces in eastern Ukraine. Amid concerns that President Donald Trump could undo U.S. sanctionsagainst Russia, ABCs George Stephanopoulos asked Pence whether sanctions would remain in place as long as Russia is violating the ceasefire in Ukraine. It just simply all depends, Pence replied.

Pressed to clarify what, exactly, continued sanctions would depend on, Pence replied, On whether or not we see the kind of changes in posture by Russia. And the opportunity, perhaps, to work on common interests. And the presidents made it clear the top priority of this administration is to hunt down and destroy ISIS at its source.

If we have opportunities to work together I think the president is looking for an opportunity to begin that relationship anew, Pence added. But make no mistake about it those decisions will await action.

Former President Barack Obama sanctioned Russia in 2014 over Moscows annexation of Crimea. Prior to leaving office, Obama announced additional sanctions over reports of Russian government interference in the U.S. elections.

Yet even prior to his presidential victory, Trump made overtures toward Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, for whom sanctions relief is a huge priority.In a recent Fox News interview, Trump brushed off host Bill OReillys description of Putin as a killer by saying, There are a lot of killers.

In a separate interview on Sunday, Pence defended Trumps remarks about the Russian president, telling NBC,The president has said manytimes if we got along with Russia better, that would be agood thing for the world. If we were to able to work with Russia to hunt down and destroy ISIS and confrontradical Islamicterrorism, that would be a goodthing.

However, the vice president took a harder line on Iran, which the U.S. sanctioned last week over a missile test.

Iran would do well to look at the calendar and realize theres a new president in the Oval Office, Pence told ABC. And Iran would do well not to test the resolve of this new president.

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Mike Pence: Future Of Russia Sanctions Remains Uncertain - Huffington Post