President Obama authorized the Department of the Treasury to impose sanctions on "individuals and entities" responsible for Russia's military moves in Crimea or for "stealing assets of the Ukrainian people" and freeze all their assets controlled by the United States. Administration officials said that sanctions would not apply to Putin or other top Russian officials. Obama also announced that the United States would expand visa bans affecting Russians.

In an hour-long telephone conversation with Putin, Obama urged the Russian president to talk directly with the Ukrainian interim government. But Russia would not lend legitimacy to a regime it does not recognize.

Obama faced a more complex situation when Crimea's parliament voted to leave Ukraine and join Russia, and called for a referendum to be held on March 16. And Russia's Duma initiated a process for receiving Crimea as part of Russia.

Obama has called that move illegal, as it violates the Ukrainian constitution and international law.

It looks like Russia is determined to reclaim Crimea. The strategic peninsula belonged to Russia for 200 years. Russia lost it only in 1954 as a result of a whim on the part of Nikita Khrushchev.

Washington is bound tightly, as its EU allies are reluctant to impost sanctions on Russia, fearing it would backfire, as Europe depends heavily on Russian energy supplies.

The struggle for Ukraine is complicated by historical, ethnic, religious and cultural factors. It seems large-scale military conflict is not in the cards. But emotions run high. Of all the commentaries, Henry Kissinger's article in the Washington Post seems to provide food for thought. He argued that if Ukraine is to survive and thrive, it must not be either side's outpost against the other -- it should function as a bridge between them.

That sounds eminently sensible. But it will be hard for the two sides to reach such a compromise.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.ccgp-fushun.com/opinion/zhaojinglun.htm

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