Obama to meet Ukrainian PM on Wednesday

Ukraine's new Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk arrives at a European leaders emergency summit on the situation in Ukraine, in Brussels March 6, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama will meet with Ukraine's new Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Washington on Wednesday, the White House said.

The 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 White House said in a statement.

Obama and 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 statement said.

They will also discuss international support 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, it added.

"(Obama) has invited the Ukrainian Prime Minister Yatsenyuk to come to the White House on Wednesday to further demonstrate support and consult him," Obama's Deputy National Security Advisor Blinken told NBC television's "Meet the Press" program.

Blinken said Obama has been rallying world support for Ukraine' s new government and has put together a major international support package.

"In terms of isolating Russia, what we've seen as a result of the mobilized support is the financial markets in Russia have hit lows, the ruble has hit a low, investors are wondering whether to get involved in Russia because of the instability," Blinken said.

"All of that is exacting a real cost and a real consequence," he added.

Crimea, host to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, has been at the epicenter of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine since Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted by parliament on Feb 22.

Russia said Friday that they did not expect a new cold war and the West and Moscow could seek some common ground to solve the Ukraine crisis through dialogue.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday warned the United States not to impose any sanctions on Moscow, as Washington would inevitably be hit in return.