With his nation in turmoil and Russia poised to annex the strategically important Crimean peninsula, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk will visit Washington on Wednesday and meet with President Obama.
The White House said the meeting will focus on “how to find a peaceful resolution to Russia’s ongoing military intervention in Crimea that would respect Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The visit to Washington sends an important signal that the U.S. stands behind the new Ukrainian government and will work with Mr. Yatsenyuk and other leaders in helping Ukraine move forward.
Next week, the people of Crimea will vote whether to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. The referendum will come with Russian troops already on the ground in Crimea, and the U.S. and its allies scrambling to enact economic sanctions and other measures to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression.
Mr. Yatsenyuk took over as prime minister following the ouster of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who left office after prolonged protests in Kiev and elsewhere.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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