The US is openly accusing Russia of sending combat forces into Ukraine. <br /><br />Washington has threatened to tighten economic sanctions, but President Barack Obama has once again ruled out any American military action.<br /><br />“The violence is encouraged by Russia. The separatists are trained by Russia. They are armed by Russia. They are funded by Russia,” Obama told reporters.<br /><br />“Russia has deliberately and repeatedly violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and the new images of Russian forces inside Ukraine make that plain for the world to see.”<br /><br />But Washington stopped short of calling Moscow’s intensified support for separatist forces an invasion. <br /><br />Obama added that he intends to show America’s commitment to Ukraine when he welcomes the country’s President, Petro Poroshenko, to the White House next month.
