Obama to meet with top lawmakers on Ukraine crisis

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says President Barack Obama will meet with top lawmakers on Thursday about the situation in Ukraine.

Obama plans to host House Speaker John Boehner, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday evening in the Oval Office.

The White House says Obama will also update the leaders on his trip last week to Europe. Much of that four-country trip was dominated by efforts to coordinate the West's response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.

Congress has sent Obama a bill providing $1 billion in loan guarantees to Ukraine and punishing Russia for its bold annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea. Some in Congress are pushing Obama to take further steps, including increasing natural gas exports to Europe.