President Obama And Prime Minister Abe Agree Russia's Moves In Ukraine Threaten World Peace During Phone Conversation; Obama Also Has Second Phone Conversation With Putin

During a phone conversation about the situation in Ukraine, U.S. President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed that Russia's intervention there is threatening world peace, the White House said Thursday, according to Reuters.

"The two leaders agreed that Russia's actions are a threat to international peace and security and emphasized the importance of preserving Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the White House said in a statement. "They committed to work with other G-7 partners to insist that Russia abide by its obligations and commitments to Ukraine's sovereignty."

Earlier in the day, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a news conference that Tokyo will work in close contact with other countries on any sanctions against Russia. But he urged all parties to act with prudence, Reuters reported.

And Obama ordered sanctions on those responsible for Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine, including bans on travel to the U.S. and freezing of U.S. assets.

Obama also held a one-hour call Thursday with Vladimir Putin -- their second phone conversation in the past six days -- urging the Russian president to accept the terms of a potential diplomatic solution to the crisis, Reuters noted.

As moves to bring Crimea, which has an ethnic Russian majority and has essentially been seized by Russia, under Russian rule, move ahead, EU leaders held an emergency summit, searching for ways in which to put pressure on Russia to retreat.

European Union leaders agreed to suspend visa and investment talks with Russia.