U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement in response to Russia's military incursion into the Crimea region of Ukraine:
"This escalating crisis in Ukraine threatens the peace and security of Europe and the entire world because the borders of nations must be respected. President Obama is right to say that the military incursion by Russia is a clear violation of international law and of the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine.
"Now it is critical that the United States and the international community work with all parties on a peaceful resolution to this crisis that respects Ukraine's sovereignty, protects the rights of all Ukrainians and ensures that the country can determine its own future."