Putin calls Obama to discuss Ukraine
Barack Obama is visiting Saudi Arabia following a trip to Europe
Russia's
Vladimir Putin has telephoned President Barack Obama to discuss the US
proposal for a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine.
Mr Obama suggested that Russia put a concrete response in writing, the White House said in a statement.
According to the Kremlin, Mr Putin suggested examining how the situation could be stabilised.
Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine has sparked international condemnation.
In the hour-long phone call, the US president urged Mr Putin to avoid the build-up of forces on the Russian border with Ukraine.
"President Obama underscored to President Putin that the
United States continues to support a diplomatic path... with the aim of
de-escalation of the crisis," the White House said in a statement.
"President Obama made clear that this remains possible only
if Russia pulls back its troops and does not take any steps to further
violate Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty."
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Mark Mardell reports: ''It does sound like the Russians are backing away from further conflict''
The two leaders agreed that their foreign ministers would meet soon to discuss the next steps.
The US proposal, developed in consultation with Ukraine and
other European countries, includes the deployment of international
monitors to protect the rights of Russian speakers in Crimea, and the
return of Russian troops there to their bases.
Mr Obama received Mr Putin's call in Saudi Arabia - the
latest leg of a trip which also took the US president to Europe where
the Ukraine crisis dominated discussions.
The Kremlin said in a statement that the Russian president
drew Mr Obama's attention to "the continued rampage of extremists" in
Kiev and various regions of Ukraine.
It said these individuals were "committing acts of
intimidation towards peaceful residents, government authorities and law
enforcement agencies... with impunity".
Mr Putin suggested examining possible steps the global
community could take to help stabilise the situation, the Kremlin
statement said.
He also expressed concern at an "effective blockade" of Moldova's separatist region of Trans-Dniester, where Russia has troops.
Pro-Russian politicians there have sent a request asking to join the Russian Federation.
Nato fears Russia could use its forces in Trans-Dniester to invade the breakaway region.
President Putin welcomed military leaders to the Kremlin on Friday
Meanwhile in New York, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
said he had been assured by President Putin that the Russian leader "had
no intention to make any military move" into Ukraine.
Russia's reported troop movements near Ukraine's eastern
border - described as a "huge military build-up" by Nato - has triggered
fears that Mr Putin's interest in Ukraine is not limited to Crimea.
The BBC's North America Editor, Mark Mardell, said Friday
night's phone call could indicate tentative progress towards a
diplomatic solution - just when fears were growing in the West that
Russia could be about to stage an invasion of eastern Ukraine.
The US and its allies have imposed sanctions on members of Mr
Putin's inner circle, and threatened to take action to target the
Russian economy, in response to Moscow's actions in Crimea.
Moscow formally annexed Crimea after the predominantly ethnic Russian region held a referendum which backed joining Russia.
Kiev and the West condemned the vote as "illegal".
The move followed months of street protests, which led to the
overthrow of pro-Kremlin Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in
February.
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