Obama presents "conditions for diplomatic solution"

Obama presents "conditions for diplomatic solution"

In their second phone conversation in the past six days, Obama told Putin that Russia's "entry into Ukraine was a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of that state," according to the White House.

On the other hand, the Kremlin announced that Putin said Russia "cannot ignore the calls for help from the Ukraine, but also that the United States and Russia should not sacrifice their relationships."

Moscow has stated Putin said Russia is reacting appropriately to the situation "in the brotherly country" and in accordance with international law.

During the conversation, Obama laid out conditions for a diplomatic solution, advocated by U.S. officials.

According this, Russia would "withdraw its troops to bases in the Crimea," allow international monitors to ensure that the rights of ethnic Russians respected, and agree to direct talks with Ukrainian officials.

A statement from the Kremlin stressed that Putin said relations between the two countries should not suffer because of the Ukrainian crisis.

The Russian president also dismissed claims that Moscow was behind the forces taking over in Crimea and again said that the armed men on the peninsula were "members of the local units of self-defense."

Putin said that Russia wants to cooperate with Western powers, but that any solution of the crisis must be based on the agreement brokered by the EU on February 21, and signed by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych who was then overthrown.

According to Putin, Yanukovych remains the legitimate president of Ukraine, Reuters reported.

Putin and Obama agreed that the their foreign ministers should continue "intensive contacts with regard to Ukraine."

Meanwhile, the City Council of Sevastopol, a port city in Crimea that is home to the Russian Black Sea Fleet, decided, effective immediately, to join Russia and sever all ties with Ukraine.

The new Ukrainian leadership rejected the decision as "illegitimate."

Late on Thursday, the European Union said it had suspended talks on visa liberalization and signing of economic agreements with Russia and urged it to "withdraw forces from Ukraine," and start dialogue with Kiev.

If Russia ignores EU demands, this organization threatened "more severe measures, three-stage sanctions and serious consequences in bilateral relations."