Ukraine Crisis: Obama says US and Europe Must Act Collectively To Levy Sanctions Against Russia

PUTRAJAYA, April 27 (Bernama) -- United States (US) President Barack Obama says the US and European countries should act collectively in levying sanctions against Russia over its actions in the Ukraine crisis. He said with such strategy, the world must unite to show Russia its disapproval for initiating sanctions in Ukraine, amid Western fears of a Russian invasion. "It is important for us to make sure that we are part of an international coalition in sending that message, and Russia is isolated, rather than the US, in trying to pull Ukraine out of this orbit, circa 1950. "Although a deal had been reached with Russia to de-escalate the crisis, Russia has not lifted a finger to help (to implement a deal struck in Geneva on April 17 which was aimed at easing the crisis). "In fact, there is strong evidence that they (Russia) have been encouraging the kinds of activities that have taken place (in Ukraine)," he said at a joint news conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak here Sunday. Obama is on a three-day official visit to Malaysia, beginning yesterday. Yesterday, the Group of Seven (G7) countries agreed to start slapping fresh sanctions on Moscow, over the worsening Ukraine crisis amid Western fears of a Russian invasion. The Pentagon reported Russian warplanes violated Ukraine's airspace several times on Thursday and Friday, and might have been part of an effort to test Ukraine's radar. The air incursions took place as tens of thousands of Russian troops, massed on Ukraine's southern and eastern borders for weeks. In eastern Ukraine, Kiev's Western-backed coup-installed government is waging an offensive against pro-Moscow rebels holding a string of towns. Although Russia wants to portray that Washington is against Moscow in this Ukraine crisis, Obama said: "That is not the issue. The real issue is Ukraine's independence and sovereignty and territorial integrity. "We have interest in the whole process, and it is important for us to make US a part of the international co-relation, sending a message to Russia that Russia is isolated in the sanctions." In fact, Obama said this must be done in a unified, effective and systematic manner, in order to sustain the long haul. "For example, just say we are not going to allow certain arms sales to Russia, but if every European defence contractor backfields what we do, then it is not very effective. "It will be more effective if everyone signs up and is committed," said the president. Responding to the audio recording of Don Sterling, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Obama said those were incredibly offensive racist statements published. "I don't think I have to interpret those statements for you, they kind of speak for themselves. When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don't really have to do anything. You just let them talk. And that's what happened here," he said. However, he noted that the National Basketball Association (NBA) would address the situation, and said the United States still wrestled with the legacy of race, slavery and segregation. "Obviously, the NBA is a league that is beloved by fans all across the country. It's got an awful lot of African-American players. It's steeped in African-American culture. And, I suspect that the NBA is going to be deeply concerned in resolving this. "We just have to be clear and steady in denouncing it, teaching our children differently, but also hopeful that part of why statements like this stand out so much is because there has been a shift in how we view ourselves," noted Obama. Yesterday, Sterling was allegedly the speaker on an audio recording posted on TMZ website, telling his girlfriend not to bring black people to games. -- BERNAMA