Obama meeting new Ukrainian premier

In a diplomatic dig at Russia, US president Barack Obama is hosting the new Ukrainian prime minister at the White House, a high-profile gesture aimed at cementing the West’s allegiance to Ukraine’s fledgling government.

The meeting between Mr Obama and Arseniy Yatsenyuk comes as the Crimean peninsula pre;pares for a weekend referendum to determine its future. Voters in the mainly pro-Russian region will be given two options: becoming part of Russia or remaining in Ukraine with broader powers.