Delivering what seemed like an agenda-setting speech in Brussels on Wednesday (26 March), US President Barack Obama said that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, had miscalculated if he thought he could divide the West over his annexation of Crimea. Obama said it had rather achieved the opposite, further uniting Europe, the United States and partners.
"Over the last several days, the United States, Europe, and our partners around the world have been united in defence of these ideals, and united in support of the Ukrainian people," said the US president.
The United States and the European Union agreed yesterday (26 March) to work together to prepare possible tougher economic sanctions in response to Russia's behaviour in Ukraine, including on the energy sector, and to make Europe less dependent on Russian gas [more].
