U.S President Barack Obama’s meeting with Ukraine’s prime minister on Wednesday raises the stakes in his attempt to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions in Crimea and preempt any spread to nearby countries.
Obama, who welcomed Ukraine’s interim prime minister to the White House and pledged to “stand with Ukraine” in its dispute with Russia.
U.S. President warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that the international community “will be forced to apply costs” if Russia does not remove its troops from Crimea.
Leaders of the G7 group of nations had earlier issued a similar threat.
Ukraine PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk, 39, speaking after meeting Mr Obama, said Ukraine “will never surrender” to Russia.
“It is absolutely unacceptable to have Russian boots on the Ukrainian ground in the 21st century, violating all international deals and treaties,” he said.
The invitation to Yatsenyuk, is Obama’s latest demonstration of support for the government in Kiev before a March 16 referendum in Crimea that may result in the the autonomous region joining Russia.
The U.S. regards the vote as illegitimate.
Since Russia used its troops to gain dominance in Ukraine’s Crimea region last month, Obama has spoken out repeatedly and has used diplomatic pressure, authorized economic sanctions and had forces participate in military maneuvers to pressure Putin to pull back.
The U.S. has yet to succeed, and the Yatsenyuk meeting presents another opportunity as well as a risk.
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