Ukrainian crisis: Putin called Obama

Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama discussed the path of the diplomatic settlement of the Ukrainian crisis by phone, the press service of the White House reports . It is noted that the conversation took place on the initiative of the Russian president. This is the first direct contact of Putin and Obama after the West introducing anti -Russian sanctions.

The proposals presented this week by US Secretary of State John Kerry at a meeting with Russian colleague Sergei Lavrov in The Hague. Obama invited the Russian side to give a specific written response to these sentences. It was decided to continue consultations at the level of heads of diplomacy. Russia was proposed to withdraw troops from the Ukrainian border and start negotiations with Kyiv; At the same time, international observers for monitoring the rights of the Russian -speaking population may go to Ukraine.

Obama in a conversation with Putin noted that the Ukrainian side behaves with restraint and strives for discharge, while conducting constitutional reform and democratic elections. The US President called on Russia to avoid further provocations, including building a military group near borders with Ukraine, the White House said in a statement. Settlement of the crisis is possible only if Moscow withdraws troops and abandon the further steps that violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Obama said.

The Kremlin’s press service reports that Putin “attracted Obama’s attention to the continuing rampant extremists who commit intimidation acts against civilians, power structures, law enforcement agencies in various regions and in Kiev”. "In this context, the Russian leader proposed to consider the possible steps of the international community to promote the stabilization of the situation," the report said. In addition, Putin focused on the Transnistrian problem - the "actual external blockade" of the self -proclaimed republic.

The day before, in an interview with CBS, Obama suggested that Russia’s actions may be an “attempt to intimidate Ukraine” or they may indicate that Russia is planning further steps. ” Obama urged to defuse the situation and begin direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.

According to Obama, Putin "wants to show the regrets deeply sitting in him about what he considers the loss of the Soviet Union." The US President emphasized that Putin should not "return to the techniques that were so common during the Cold War."

The United States has no interest in “taking Russia into the ring”, nor in control of Ukraine. The Americans want to allow the Ukrainian people to independently make decisions on how he will live on, the president said. At the same time, Obama did not say what measures the United States would take in the event of an attack by Russia on Ukraine in addition to tightening economic sanctions.

On Wednesday, military intelligence of the United States informed Congress that the threat of Russian invasion to the east of Ukraine is still considered so far. This conclusion was made on the basis of "anxious symptoms that appeared in the last three to four days."

There are serious grounds to expect Russian strikes on Kharkov, Lugansk and Donetsk and a throw in Transnistria, the members of the Committee on Affairs of the Armed Forces of the House of Representatives in a letter to President Barack Obama noted. The congressmen referred to the commander of the forces of NATO in Europe General Philip Bridlav. He claimed that Russia concentrated sufficient forces for the Ukrainian borders to invade. In addition, the Americans did not exclude that Russia would try to seize territories in the Baltic countries.

In the areas of Rostov-on-Don, Kursk and Belgorod there are over 30 thousand soldiers, American intelligence reported. These are mainly employees of motorized units intended for quick throws. Mobilization readiness also contains troops in the depths of Russian territory. It was noted that similar preparations preceded operations in Chechnya and Georgia.