Obama says no expectation that Russian forces will be dislodged from Crimea by force

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – President Barack Obama says there’s no expectation that Russian forces will be dislodged from Crimea by force.

Obama says Russian’s annexation of Crimea isn’t a done deal because the international community isn’t recognizing it. But he says the fact is Russia’s military is in control there.

He says it would be dishonest to say there’s a simple resolution to what’s taken place.

Obama says what world leaders can do is use legal, diplomatic and political arguments to pressure Russia.

Obama also says that the build-up of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border appears to be an attempt to intimidate Ukraine. But he says the troops are on Russian soil and it is Moscow’s right to have troops there.

Obama spoke at a news conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.