Obama: Russia will pay dearly for Crimea

U.S. President Barack Obama called the invasion in the Crimea violation of international law and said that the U.S. supports Ukraine in its efforts to maintain the sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said this at a meeting with the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk, reports Bloomberg.

If Vladimir Putin does not change his behavior, the United States and the international community "will have to make him pay ," Obama said after meeting with Yatsenuk in the White House. "There is another affordable way," he stressed.
If Russia changes the view of the Crimean issue, "other agreements" on the Crimea could be concluded under the Ukrainian Constitution, Obama suggested. "But this is not decisions that can be taken under shotgun," he added.
Yatsenyuk noted that Ukraine can be both part of the "Western world" and "a good friend and partner" of Russia. He said that Ukraine "will never surrender," noting that Kiev is ready to negotiate with Russia.

"Mr. Putin, break this wall - the wall of war, intimidation and military aggression," said Yatsenyuk during his speech in front of reporters. He warned that Russia can not limit itself to the Crimea and invade the central Ukraine." Let's stop. Let's calm down," called on the Prime Minister.

Obama's meeting with the Ukrainian leader was the demonstration of U.S. support for the government in Kiev, in its confrontation with Russia. As the date of the Crimean referendum on accession to Russia is approaching, Obama and U.S. allies in Europe are preparing sanctions that will be applied, if Russia does not take steps to defuse the situation.
The U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will meet in London with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on March 13. Kerry said that the U.S. and its allies are willing to provide maximum pressure on Russia . -02D-