(VOVworld) – Russia will pay a high price if it continues to intervene militarily in Crimea, US President Barack Obama warned when he met with Ukraine’s caretaker Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk at the White House on Thursday.

US President Barack Obama and Ukraine's caretaker Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk  (Photo: whitehouse.gov)

The meeting was held to show US’s support for Ukraine’s new government. President Obama said the US and its allies will make Russia pay a high price if Moscow carries out a planned referendum to separate Crimea from Ukraine. Obama said he hopes diplomatic efforts may result in a reconsideration of the referendum to be held this Sunday.
He said the US will not recognize the result of that referendum. The US also promised to give financial and technical assistance to Ukraine: "The economic situation in Ukraine is becoming more challenging. That’s why we are working with the Prime Minister and his team on a package that can help institute necessary reforms inside of Ukraine but also stabilize the situation that people feel confident in their daily lives with basic necessities". 

The same day, the US Senate’s Committee on Foreign Relations approved an economic aid package to Ukraine that includes 1 billion USD in guaranteed loans plus 150 million USD to promote democracy and security in Ukraine.