Obama rules out military action in Ukraine

US President Barack Obama speaks at an event at the White House in Washington, March 19, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

Crimea crisis

WASHINGTON -- US President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that the United States would not take military action in Ukraine against Russia.

"We are not going to be getting into a military excursion in Ukraine," Obama said in an interview in Washington with KNSD, a California-based broadcaster.

"I think even the Ukrainians would acknowledge, for us to engage Russia militarily would not be appropriate and would not be good for Ukraine, either," Obama said.

"What we are going to do is mobilize all of our diplomatic resources to make sure that we've got a strong international coalition that sends a clear message," he added.

In response to the Ukraine crisis, the Obama administration has focused on providing economic aid to Ukraine and imposing sanctions against Russia.

On Monday, Obama announced sanctions against 11 Russian and Ukraine officials who the United States said are responsible for threatening Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He indicated that further sanctions could be on the way.

In defiance of condemnations and further sanctions by the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty on Tuesday with leaders of Crimea to accept the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol as part of the Russian territory.

"Crimea is part of our common heritage and a key factor of stability in the region. This strategic territory should be under strong, stable sovereignty, which in effect can only be Russian," Putin told parliament.

The accession treaty followed Monday's decision by the Crimean parliament to declare independence from Ukraine and Sunday's referendum in the peninsula of Crimea showed an overwhelming 96.77 percent of Crimeans in favor of rejoining Russia.

The White House said on Wednesday that Russia was "directly responsible" for casualties in Crimea amid reports that two people had been killed by sniper shots in Simferopol.

"We strongly condemn Russia's use of force in Crimea," White House spokesman Jay Carney told a press briefing.

Crimea, home to the Russian Black Sea Fleet and historically part of the Russian Federation, was transferred to Ukraine in May 1954, then a republic of the Soviet Union.

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