• By
  • Jared A. Favole

WASHINGTON–President Barack Obama on Sunday spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the unfolding crisis in Ukraine, their first conversation since Russia began occupying Crimea against the protest of the U.S. and other western countries. 

In the call the two leaders “affirmed their shared interest in reducing tensions and identifying a peaceful resolution to the dispute between Russia and Ukraine,” according to a summary of the call released Monday morning by the White House.

The call comes as Russia continues to occupy Crimea and as Russian President Vladimir Putin, in defiance of threatened sanctions, threw his support behind Crimea’s move to secede from Ukraine.

Mr. Obama has spent the past few weeks calling world leaders to discuss the Ukrainian unrest, and to get their support for possible sanctions against Russia and a possible financial package to Ukraine.

Mr. Obama and Mr. Xi are committed to staying in touch as events unfold in Ukraine, the White House said. Mr. Obama told Mr. Xi that his “overriding objective” is to restore Ukraine’s sovereignty and ensure that the Ukrainian people can determine their own future.

It is unclear, at this point, what the U.S. or international community could do to force Russia to leave Crimea.



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