President Obama arrives to speak about the situation in Ukraine in the briefing room of the White House on February 28, 2014 in Washington. Obama said he was 'deeply concerned' by reports of Russia military in Ukraine. AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKIBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images ORIG FILE ID: 527588450(Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI AFP/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON--President Obama expressed concerns on Friday over reports that Russian troops are meddling in Ukraine as armed men took up positions in Ukraine's Crimean region.
"We are now deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken by the Russian Federation inside Ukraine," Obama said in brief comments at the White House. He added, "It would be a clear violation of Russia's commitment to respect the independence and sovereignty and borders of Ukraine and of international laws."
"Any violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing, which is not in the interest of Ukraine, Russia or Europe," he said.
Earlier on Friday, Ukraine's interior ministry accused Russia of a "military invasion and occupation" on Friday, saying Russian troops have taken up positions around a coast guard base and two airports on its strategic Crimea peninsula.
Ukraine's parliament also sent an urgent plea to the U.N. Security Council for a meeting on the crisis and adopted a resolution demanding Russia halt actions it says are aimed at splitting Crimea from the rest of the country.
Ukraine's autonomous province of Crimea is about 50% Russian speaking and many though not all say they identify more with Russia than Ukraine.
Russian jets this week have increased patrols along the Ukrainian border, and thousands of Russians troops have held military exercises near the Russia-Ukraine border, raising concerns about Russian interference.
Obama said that Vice President Biden spoke with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Friday to express the Obama administration's concerns.
"Just days after the world came to Russia for the Olympic Games, it would invite the condemnation of nations around the world," Obama said. "And indeed the United States will stand with the international community in affirming there will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine."
The White House on Thursday urged Russia to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty amid the events unfolding on the Crimea peninsula.
"We strongly support Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty," Carney said. "We expect other nations to do the same. And so we are closely watching Russia's military exercises along the Ukrainian border."
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