U.S President Barack Obama gestures during a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the East Room of the White House Monday  February 9, 2015. Obama and Merkel met to discuss sectoral sanctions against Russia if the situation in Ukraine worsens. Merkel does not want Obama to arm Ukraine. Merkel said she believes that if the West sends weapons to Ukraine, Russia could further step up its involvement in the conflict, possibly introducing its air force into the fight. Photo Ken Cedeno