Obama: Crimea referendum would violate law

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch)
President Barack Obama said  that any move by Crimea to become part of Russia would violate international law
"The proposed referendum on the future of Crimea would violate the Ukrainian constitution and violate international law," Obama said in a brief statement to reporters at the White House The pro-Russian authorities in Crimea announced a March 16 referendum on the question over whether Crimea would join the Russian Federation
Obama defended the visa restrictions and sanctions framework announced earlier by the White House as needed to impose a "cost" on Russia for its invasion of Crimea
The West was united in its response to the Ukraine crisis, Obama said
He called on Russia to "de-escalate" the crisis
At a separate news conference, Secretary of State John Kerry said quick action would be preferable so that nothing happens to make a diplomatic solution unworkable