Obama Has Plenty on His Plate During Short Euro Visit - East Idaho News
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Obama Has Plenty on His Plate During Short Euro Visit

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032414 PresidentObamaAirForceOne?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1395675036610File photo. Pete Souza / The White House(WASHINGTON) — President Obama’s first trip to Europe in 2014 will be momentous for a number of reasons, not the least of which will be what kind of commitment he receives from allies in order to punish Russia for the annexation of Crimea and threats against eastern Ukraine.

Obama is meeting with members of the Group of Seven leading economies in the Netherlands Monday to establish a united front against Moscow.

The White House last week slapped sanctions against members of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, which was followed by the European Union issuing its own penalties.

However, the EU is somewhat reluctant to come down hard on Moscow, given how their economies are dependent on Russian oil.

Complicating matters for Obama are still simmering feelings of anger against the U.S. for the spying of European leaders by the National Security Agency.

The president’s European trip also takes him to Brussels, home of NATO, and the Vatican, where he’ll meet Pope Francis for the first time.

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