Nikki Haley, the newly appointed U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, strong condemned Russia on Thursday for supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine amid increased violence in the country.
Haley made her first appearance at the U.N. Security Council and did not hold back in threatening to hold Russia accountable by keeping sanctions in place.
"I consider it unconscionable that the occasion of my first appearance here is one in which I must condemn the aggressive actions of Russia," Haley said. "The dire situation in eastern Ukraine is one that demands clear and strong condemnation of Russian actions."
She then highlighted how increased fighting between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces has trapped thousands of civilians and destroyed infrastructure.
"This escalation of violence must stop. The United States stands with the people of Ukraine who have suffered for nearly three years under Russian occupation and military intervention," Haley said. "Until Russia and the separatists it supports respect Ukraine sovereignty and territorial integrity, this crisis will continue."
Haley said that eastern Ukraine is not the only part of the country that suffers because of Russia's "aggressive" actions and that the United States continues to condemn Russian occupation of Crimea.
"Our Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control over the peninsula to Ukraine. The basic principle of this United Nations is that states should live side by side in peace. There is a clear path to restoring peace in eastern Ukraine," Haley said.