Ukrainian crisis can be resolved before end of Obama’s term

The White House is pushing hard to have a Russia-Ukraine peace deal implemented by the time President Barack Obama leaves office, top national security adviser Susan Rice said.

Rice, who coordinates foreign policy at the White House, said she saw potential for resolution in the Ukraine crisis by the end of the year, and said US officials were intensifying their work with French and German counterparts on the Minsk deal.

"This is something that could get done between now and the end of the administration if the Russians in particular exhibit sufficient political will," Rice said to Washington Post. Obama is set to leave office on Jan. 20, 2017.

"We are hopeful if the Russians want to resolve this - and we have some reason to believe they might - we have the time and the wherewithal and the tools to do so," Reuters cited her as saying.