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                   Obama in Brussels for Talks with EU, NATO

   U.S. President Barack Obama is in Brussels Wednesday for meetings with
   EU and NATO officials that are expected to further reinforce Western
   opposition to Russia`s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
   In his NATO talks, President Obama will reassure allies of U.S. support
   and urge members to provide assistance to the Ukrainian government. He
   then travels from Belgium to Italy, where he will meet with Pope
   Francis.
   Speaking to reporters Tuesday following a nuclear summit in The Hague,
   Mr. Obama said Russia was acting "out of weakness" in its annexation of
   Crimea He said the international community would never recognize
   Russia`s takeover of Crimea, but that a military response from the West
   was unlikely.
   On Monday, President Obama and leaders from Britain, Canada, France,
   Germany, Italy and Japan said they were suspending their participation
   with Russia in the G8, until Moscow "changes course."
   But Russian news agencies quote a Kremlin spokesman as saying Russia is
   ready for and interested in continuing contacts with its fellow G8
   countries.
   The current instability surrounding Ukraine began last November, when
   then-President Viktor Yanukovych backed off from signing a trade
   agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia.
   The move led to weeks of anti-government protests in Kyiv that forced
   the pro-Russian Mr. Yanukovych to flee the country last month.
   People in Crimea voted last week in a highly controversial ballot to
   secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation, a move quickly
   embraced by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The United States and the
   European Union say the vote violates Ukraine`s constitution and is
   illegal.
   Russia, meanwhile, is showing no signs of pulling its forces from
   Crimea, and Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from installations there.
   On Tuesday, Ukrainian marines began leaving Crimea by the busload as
   Russian forces took control of the last remaining military base under
   Ukrainian control.
   President Obama says Washington is still concerned about "further
   encroachment" into Ukraine by Russia.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-in-brussels-for-talks-with-eu-nato/1879388.html