Obama: Energy diversification needed in Europe

BRUSSELS (AP) -- President Barack Obama says the crisis in Ukraine points to the need for Europe to figure out how to diversify its energy sources.

Russia's energy sector could be the next target of economic sanctions by the U.S. and European countries should Russia escalate the situation in Ukraine. Many of the European countries that join the U.S. in opposing Russia's annexation of Crimea have been skittish about taking such a step because they are heavily dependent on Russia for their energy.

Obama says further sanctions will have different affects in some countries. He says the U.S. is committed to finding ways to accelerate the process of energy diversification across Europe.