Obama Statement on Ukraine: ‘Our International Unity Is on Display’

President Obama delivered a statement from the White House briefing room Thursday on Ukraine, announcing sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for violating Ukrainian sovereignty as well as placing travel restrictions on certain individuals. Obama said, “We took these steps in close coordination with our European allies” and “our international unity is on display at this important moment.”

The president said any discussion about Ukraine’s future “must include the legitimate government of Ukraine” and called on international monitors to be allowed into Ukraine, especially Crimea, to make sure “the rights of all Ukrainians are being respected.”

Obama repeatedly emphasized the unity between the United States and European partners in acting on this, and called on Congress to “follow these words with action.”

Watch the video below, via Fox News:

[photo via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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