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Opening a four-country swing through the Asia-Pacific region, President Barack Obama is aiming to promote the U.S. as a committed economic, military and political partner, but the West's dispute with Russia over Ukraine threatens to cast a shadow over the president's sales mission.

Obama arrived in Tokyo late Wednesday for an official state visit after flying overnight from the U.S. He headed straight for a private dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, setting the stage for bilateral talks Thursday. Obama will also be the guest of honor at a state dinner Thursday night at the Imperial Palace, the moat-lined and stone-walled home of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. He is traveling without first lady Michelle Obama.

The eight-day trip is a do-over of the Asia tour Obama had scheduled last October but canceled in the midst of the partial shutdown of the U.S. government.

As with last fall's trip, the White House wants to keep the focus on Obama's promised "rebalance" of U.S. policy toward Asia, after years of attention on the Middle East and the fight against terrorism. One goal of Obama's stops in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines is to demonstrate the benefits to America of deeper economic relations with the fast-growing region.

But the continued need for Obama to devote time and energy to more pressing matters at home and abroad has fostered lingering doubts here about the depth of the U.S. commitment. And the situation in Ukraine threatens to divert at least some of Obama's attention this week.

Relations between neighbors Russia and Ukraine remain tense nearly a week after both countries, the U.S. and the European Union inked an agreement in Geneva calling on Moscow to use its influence over pro-Russian forces to have them lay down their arms and end their occupation of government buildings in eastern Ukraine.

Each side accuses the other of failing to uphold its end of the deal.

The White House, which lays the blame squarely on Russia and praises Ukraine for behaving responsibly, has said it is monitoring the situation closely and is prepared, without being specific about a timeline, to slap additional sanctions on Russia "in the coming days" if it fails to abide by the terms of the tenuous deal.

"We are calling on all parties to comply with the commitments they've made," White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters traveling with Obama.

The U.S. response in Ukraine has unsettled some Asian countries, leaving them to wonder how reliable a partner the U.S. would be if they ever faced a similar situation given their own sea and air disputes with China. They are seeking reassurance from Obama.

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Obama Opens 4-Country, Asia-Pacific Trip in Tokyo