Obama hopes for de-escalation of Ukraine crisis

US President Barack Obama said at a charity meeting in Virginia that he hoped for de-escalation of tensions over Ukraine, RIA Novosti reports.He accused Russia of using force to influence Ukraine.Obama admitted that Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych had been elected democratically but many in Ukraine called Yanukovych a bad president. Obama denied direct involvement of the US in the events in Ukraine. He said that the crisis had been provoked by the refusal of Yanukovych to sign an association agreement with the EU.

US President Barack Obama said at a charity meeting in Virginia that he hoped for de-escalation of tensions over Ukraine, RIA Novosti reports.

He accused Russia of using force to influence Ukraine.

Obama admitted that Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych had been elected democratically but many in Ukraine called Yanukovych a bad president. Obama denied direct involvement of the US in the events in Ukraine. He said that the crisis had been provoked by the refusal of Yanukovych to sign an association agreement with the EU.