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'..Ukraine's independence .. crucial to European security.'

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<blockquote>'The United States prepared to impose sanctions on high-level Russian officials involved in the military occupation. The Obama administration on Monday suspended military ties to Russia, including exercises, port visits, and planning meetings, just a day after calling off trade talks. If Moscow does not reverse course, officials said they will ban visas and freeze assets of select Russian officials in the chain of command as well as target state-run financial institutions.

Congressional leaders signaled that they would follow with sanctions of their own, plus quickly approve economic aid for the fragile pro-Western government in Ukraine.'

- US halts military ties to Moscow, weighs ban on visas, March 4, 2014</blockquote>


<blockquote>'..Ukraine's independence .. crucial to European security. In exchange for Kiev's difficult decision in 1994 to hand over its nuclear weapons to Russia, the U.S., along with Britain and Moscow, promised to assure Ukraine's territorial integrity in the so-called Budapest Memorandum. Russia is now in breach of this agreement.'

- Putin Declares War, March 2, 2014</blockquote>


Context

<blockquote>Ukraine - '..substantive measures designed to isolate Russia politically and economically.'</blockquote>