DHAKA: US President Barack Obama has warned Russia there will be "costs" for any military intervention in Ukraine.

He said he was deeply concerned by reports of Russian military movements inside the country.

Ukraine`s acting president has accused Russia of deploying troops to Crimea and trying to provoke Kiev into "armed conflict".

Russia`s UN ambassador said any troop movements in Crimea were within an existing arrangement with Ukraine.

Speaking from the White House, President Obama commended Ukraine`s interim government for its "restraint".

"Any violation of Ukraine`s sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilising, which is not in the interests of Ukraine, Russia or Europe," he said.

Obama did not spell out what any US response might be. However, the BBC`s Beth McLeod in Washington says the US is considering exerting economic pressure by withholding the deeper trade ties that Moscow seeks.

It is also considering boycotting a G8 summit hosted by Russia, she adds, although that is not until June.

US Republican Mike Rogers, who chairs the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, said in a statement: "It appears that the Russian military now controls the Crimean peninsula."

The White House said Vice-President Joe Biden called Ukrainian acting Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk on Friday "to reaffirm the United States` strong support for the new government and our commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democratic future of Ukraine."

Source: BBC
BDST: 1241 HRS, MAR 01 , 2014