Ukraine's Prime Minister appeals for maintaining sanctions

(Vatican Radio) Ukraine's prime minister has urged the West not to lift sanctions against Russia until his country regains control over its entire territory, including the Crimean Peninsula. Arseniy Yatsenyuk's appeal ended a day of intense discussions over the growing global threat of extremist groups at the United Nations in New York.  

Listen to the report by Stefan Bos:

Yatsenyuk made comments on punitive measures amid concerns that the United States may lift sanctions against Russia. 

American President Barrack Obama earlier told the annual U.N. General Assembly that Washington will end economic sanctions if Moscow follows through on a cease-fire signed this month with Ukraine. 

But in his address to the General Assembly, Prime Minister Yatsenyuk urged America and the European Union to maintain the pressure on Russia.      

URGING PARTNERS 

"We ask our partners not to lift sanctions until Ukraine takes over control of its entire territory - starting with the east of Ukraine and ending with Crimea," he said. "Crimea was, is and will be a part of Ukraine," he pledged, interrupted by applause from supporters in the Assembly. 

The months-long fighting between pro-Russian separatists and government forces in eastern Ukraine has been a major theme of speeches at the global assembly.  

Ukraine and the West say Russia has provided personnel, arms and expertise to the separatists, a claim Moscow denies.

Yatsenyuk said Ukrainian soldiers and civilians die every day as shelling continues in several areas despite a ceasefire agreement.

NATION PRAYING

The prime minister added his nation had been praying with families of 298 people who recently died when a Malaysian Airlines plane was shot down over Ukraine with a Russian-made missile. 

Yatsenyuk urged Russia to in his words "stop the supply of Russian-led terrorists" and start "real peace talks." 

And he made an emotional warning to Russia's President Vladimir Putin.  

“Mr. Putin, you can win a fight against the troops. But you will never win the fight against the nation, a united Ukrainian nation,” he said, adding: "Help us, God. Thank you."

The conflict has killed more than 3,000 people, and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents.