President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday condemned Russia’s move to annex Crimea and agreed international monitors need to be sent to southern Ukraine immediately, according to the White House.
The leaders called the annexation “a violation of international law, and noted there would be costs,” according to a readout of the phone conversation.
The United States and the international community have imposed sanctions on Russia for its incursion into Ukraine, and the Obama administration on Tuesday said more sanctions are to come.
Obama and Merkel also said it is vital that international monitors from the United Nations and the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe be sent to southern and eastern Ukraine immediately.
Both the U.S. and European Union have stressed there is still a path for a diplomatic resolution following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s move Tuesday to sign a treaty making Crimea a part of Russia again.
