Live Blog: UN Backs Ukraine Integrity

"[Annexation of Crimea] is not a done a deal in a sense that the international community by and large is not recognizing the annexation of Crimea. Obviously, the facts on the ground are that the Russian military controls Crimea. There are a number of individuals inside of Crimea that are supportive of that process. There is no expectation that they will be dislodged by force. And so what we can bring to bear are the legal argument, the diplomatic arguments, the political pressure, the economic sanctions that are already in place to make sure there is a cost to that process."

"I think it would be dishonest to suggest that there is a simple solution to resolving what is already taking place in Crimea, although history has a funny way of moving in twists and turns and not just in a straight line. So how the situation in Crimea evolves in part depends on making sure that international community stays unified in indicating that this was an illegal action on the part of Russia."

"With respect to the Russian troops that are along the borders of Ukraine at the moment, right now they are on Russian soil. And if they stay on Russian soil, we oppose what appears to be an effort of intimidation, but Russia has a right legally to have its troops on its own soil. I don't think [further Russian incursion into Ukraine] is a done deal and I think that Russia is making a series of calculations. And again, those calculations will be impacted in part by how unified the Untied States and Europe are, and the international community is, in saying to Russia that this is not how in the 21st century we resolve disputes."

"I think it is particularly important for all of us to dismiss this notion that somehow Russian-speakers or Russian nationals inside Ukraine are threatened and that somehow that would justify Russian action. There has been no evidence that Russian-speakers have in any way been threatened. If anything, what we have seen are provocateurs who have created scuffles inside of Ukraine. But when I hear analogies, for example, to Kosovo, where you had thousands of people that were being slaughtered by their government, it is a comparison that makes absolutely no sense."

U.S. President Barack Obama has indicated that the United States and its allies will not back down in pressuring Russia over the annexation of Crimea.

Obama said the United States is concerned about the massing of Russian troops along Ukraine's border but he added Russia seems to be "making a series of calculations" as the Kremlin takes note of international opposition to Russian moves in Crimea.

Obama called Russia a "regional power" that is threatening a neighbor out of weakness not strength, noting if Russia had substantial influence in Ukraine it would not have needed to send troops there to enforce its policies.

Obama conceded however that Russia has military control over Crimea but reiterated the U.S. and its allies are "not recognizing what is happening in Crimea."