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As Russia tightens its grip on Crimea 鈥� bloodlessly, so far 鈥� the US is angling for influence in Ukraine as experts and political figures offer advice and comment.

This coming week, Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk will fly to the United States to discuss the crisis.

The purpose of the visit Wednesday, the White House announced Sunday, will be to 鈥渄iscuss how to find a peaceful resolution to Russia鈥檚 ongoing military intervention in Crimea that would respect Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity.鈥�
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From the point of view of Washington and its European allies trying to dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin from his military push into the critical Crimean region 鈥� leaving Ukrainian military outposts there essentially surrounded 鈥� the picture is not improving. So far, threats of diplomatic and economic isolation are not having the desired effect.

Speaking on 鈥淔ox News Sunday,鈥� former Defense Secretary Robert Gates said "I do not believe that Crimea will slip out of Russia's hands."

"You think Crimea鈥檚 gone?"听Fox host Chris Wallace asked. "I do," Mr. Gates replied.

Still, said Gates, who began his government service in GOP administrations before continuing as defense secretary under President Obama, harsh Republican criticisms of the White House are out of line.

"Some of the criticism of the president ought to be toned down while he's handling this crisis," Gates said. "After all, Putin invaded Georgia when George W. Bush was president. Nobody ever accused George W. Bush of being weak or being unwilling to use military force."

鈥淚 think that even if we had launched attacks in Syria, even if we weren't cutting our defense budget, I think Putin saw an opportunity here in Crimea and he has seized it,鈥� he said. "There really aren't any direct military options.鈥�

But there are indirect military options available to the US and NATO, former defense secretary and former vice president Dick Cheney said on CBS鈥檚 鈥�Face the Nation.鈥�

鈥淭here are military options that don鈥檛 involve putting troops on the ground in Crimea,鈥� Mr. Cheney said. 鈥淲e could go back and reinstate the ballistic-missile defense program that was taken out, that was originally going to go in Poland and the Czech Republic and Obama took it out to appease Putin.鈥�

Cheney also suggested joint military exercises with Poland and offering military equipment and training to Ukraine.

The effects of nonmilitary options are being seen, US officials insist.

鈥淚n coordination with our allies, we've imposed significant sanctions on Russia, and that's already exerting a cost,鈥� deputy national security听advisor听Tony Blinken said on CNN鈥檚听鈥淪tate of the Union.鈥� 鈥淲e've seen Russian markets go down听substantially, the ruble go down, and investors sitting on the fence. So Russia鈥檚 paying a price for this,鈥澨�

A referendum for Crimea to leave Ukraine and join the Russian Federation, organized by pro-Russian members of Crimea鈥檚 regional assembly, is scheduled for March 16.

鈥淚f there is a referendum and it votes to move Crimea out of Ukraine and to Russia, we won鈥檛 recognize it and most of the world won鈥檛 either,鈥� Mr.听Blinken听said on NBC鈥檚听鈥淢eet the Press.鈥� 鈥淲ere that to happen, the isolation of Russia, the cost that it would pay, would increase significantly from where they are now.鈥�

Rep. Paul Ryan (R) of Wisconsin suggests 鈥渢argeting some of the oligarchs around [Putin] that are his enablers and he is their enablers."

"I do think there are vulnerabilities within Russia that he has politically that can be exploited,鈥� Rep. Ryan said on 鈥淔ace the Nation.鈥�

Speaking of Putin, retired Marine Corps General James Jones, Obama鈥檚 former national security advisor, warns of 鈥減recipitous moves that preclude people from being able to step back from it and get to the point where you get boxed in.鈥�

Interviewed by Charlie Rose on CBS, Gen. Jones said: 鈥淢ister Putin has to understand that if he doesn't figure a way to get out of this that the long-term consequences for him and for Russia could have serious consequences in terms of the economic relationships and the isolation of Russia with regard to Europe.鈥�