Obama, Ashton reaffirm commitment to Iran, Ukraine agreements

US President Barack Obama and his National Security Adviser Susan Rice met with EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on Tuesday for a discussion on the progress of the nuclear agreement with Iran, as well as the crisis in Ukraine. "They agreed that a comprehensive solution must assure the international community that Iran's nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful," said the White House in a statement. "The president underscored his support for the ongoing negotiations, and the importance of building on the progress of the [P5+1] Joint Plan of Action to develop the type of comprehensive solution that can give the international community confidence that Iran is meeting its obligations." Obama also noted that the US and EU must continue to "coordinate closely with one another and the other members of the P5+1 as negotiations move forward." The leaders then "expressed continued US-EU determination to support the government of Ukraine and to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis," particularly as the May 25 elections approach. "They reiterated the need for Russia to live up to its Geneva commitments, including using its influence over armed separatists who are destabilizing eastern Ukraine to get them to disarm and engage peacefully in Ukraine's political process," said the White House. Both parties agreed that Russia should face further sanctions if it does not begin a de-escalation process in Ukraine. At the conclusion of the meeting, Rice "expressed condolences to the victims of the attack against the European Union delegation in Yemen and their families."