Ukraine backs US sanctions bill on Russia

Kiev welcomed the U.S. Senate's approval of new sanctions against Russia, President Petro Poroshenko said on Friday.

"Grateful for the support by the U.S. Congress of a new package of sanctions against Russia," Poroshenko said on his official Twitter account.

"I believe in the U.S.' unwavering position as regards fair and inevitable punishment of the aggressor," he added, hailing Congress' "resolute" message of unity and solidarity in support of Ukraine.

Poroshenko's remarks came a day after the U.S. Senate approved new sanctions against Russia in retaliation for its alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The bill next will be sent to President Donald Trump, who has hinted he may veto it, though it passed with a veto-proof majority.

Russian's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014 led Western powers, including the U.S., to first impose sanctions against Moscow.

Along with the UN General Assembly, the U.S., the EU, and Turkey also do not recognize Crimea as Russian territory.

Since the annexation, Ukraine has been wracked by conflict in its eastern regions with Russian-backed separatists, leading to more than 10,000 deaths, according to the UN.