Ukraine prime minister to visit Obama

President Obama will meet with Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk on Wednesday, White House officials announced Sunday.

{mosads}The meeting comes amid rising tensions between U.S. and Russian officials over Ukraine.

The White House said Yatsenyuk’s visit “will highlight the strong support of the United States for the people of Ukraine, who have demonstrated inspiring courage and resilience through recent times of crisis.

“The president and Prime Minister Yatsenyuk will discuss how to find a peaceful resolution to Russia’s ongoing military intervention in Crimea that would respect Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the White House said.  “They will also discuss support the international community can provide to help Ukraine confront its economic challenges, and the importance of uniting Ukraine and working to fulfill the aspirations of the Ukrainian people as they prepare for May presidential elections.”  

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied responsibility for the standoff, arguing that the troops in Crimea, a peninsula in Ukraine, are not official members of his country’s military.

U.S. and European officials have responded to the military maneuvering by issuing economic sanctions against Russia.