U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, on Sunday condemned what he termed Russia’s “destabilizing activities” but said he and President Trump “remain very hopeful that we’ll see different behavior by the Russian government, with regard to Ukraine, with regard to supporting rogue regimes in Iran and North Korea.
Pence arrived in Estonia on Sunday morning on a three-nation tour meant to reassure NATO allies of America’s continued commitment to NATO amid mounting concerns of Russia’s growth in the region. He will also visit Georgia and Montenego.
The visit comes amid rising tensions between the United States and Russia, after the U.S. Congress approved new sanctions on the country.
New U.S. sanctions were in part a response to conclusions by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and to further punish Russia for its annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Russian president Vladimir Putin said Russia will expel 755 U.S. diplomatic staff and could consider imposing additional measures against the United States as a response to the new sanctions.
