earlier this month on what the obama administration would do if russia did not de-escalate the situation in eastern ukraine? if they disrupt this month s presidential election, we will move quickly on additional steps, including further sanctions that will impose greater costs. escalating violence in eastern ukraine, putin calling the ousted ukrainian president the legitimate leader, would that be disrupting elections? joining me now is the deputy spokeswoman for the state department marie hart, thank you for joining me. you heard president obama say that these separatists are, quote, russian-backed groups and are, quote, heavily armed militants receiving significant support from russia. so isn t russia meddling in this election? absolutely. this election is going to happen. a vast majority of ukraine i know you just spoke to jim