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　　WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama hasexpressed hope that a plan to de-escalatetensions in Ukraine, reached Thursday inGeneva, will lead to restoration of peace andsecurity for all citizens of Ukraine. Obama toldreporters in Washington that if Russia fails totake steps to defuse the crisis in eastern Ukraine, the United States and Europe willrespond with tough measures, but he ruled out a military intervention.

　　President Obama said the sanctions already imposed on Russia have had a documentedimpact on its economy, and that additional measures could make the situation worse.

　　"But we don't have an interest in hurting ordinary Russians just for the sake of it. Our strongpreference would be for Mr. Putin to follow through on what is a glimmer of hope coming outof these Geneva talks, but we are not going to count on it until we see it," said Obama.

　　Mr. Obama spoke after news from Geneva that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, U.S.Secretary of State John Kerry and their European counterpart Catherine Ashton had agreedon a plan to de-escalate tensions and prevent bloodshed between Ukrainian military forcesand pro-Russian militias. Lavrov announced after the meeting that the OSCE mission already inUkraine will monitor the implementation of the plan.

　　"All illegally armed groups must be disarmed. All illegally seized buildings must be returned tothe legitimate owners. All streets, squares and other public spaces in all Ukrainian cities must bevacated. An amnesty must be granted to all protesters, except those found guilty of illegalcrimes," said Lavrov.

　　Armed pro-Russian groups have taken over government buildings in many eastern Ukrainiancities and Russia has amassed forces along its border with Ukraine, sparking fears of a repeatof the Crimea scenario.

　　Former U.S. permanent representative to NATO Kurt Volker does not put much faith inThursday's agreement with Moscow.

　　"It is deliberately misleading about what’s going on in Ukraine and what its own actions are inUkraine. And when it says it’s agreed to de-escalation, I am convinced that what Russiameans is that they expect Ukraine and the West to de-escalate and allow Russia to go aboutdoing what it’s doing. So I don’t see this agreement is really amounting to very much,” saidVolker.

　　Volker said the U.S. and NATO must show strength and resolve to deter Russia from furthersteps, and that will create stability.

　　Obama on Thursday promised tough action to deter Russia, but he ruled out any militaryoption.

　　"Because this is not a situation that would be amenable to a clear military solution. What wehave to do is to create an environment in which irregular forces disarm, that the seizing ofbuildings cease, that a national dialogue by Ukrainians - not by Russian, not by Americans oranybody else but by Ukrainians - takes place," said Obama.

　　Obama said Ukraine needs to implement reforms that meet the interests of all its variousgroups, hold elections and start working on its economy.