Russia acts appropriately, Putin tells German Chancellor Merkel

In a conversation about the state of affairs in Ukraine with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin said that Russia was acting appropriately.

The conversation took place at the initiative of Merkel, who set out concerns about Russia's possible military intervention, ITAR-TASS reported with reference to the press service of the Kremlin. In response to Chancellor's concerns, Vladimir Putin said that Russia was acting solely in the interests of the Russian-speaking population of the Crimea to defend the people against unabated ultranationalist threat.

"The measures taken by Russia, are absolutely adequate for the present extraordinary situation," said the Russian leader.

Putin also talked to President Barack Obama on March 1 overnight, who also spoke against "Russia's aggression against a sovereign state."

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said after the conversation between the leaders of Russia and the United States said that the West could contribute to the economic isolation of the Russian Federation should the latter launch a military intervention in the Ukrainian conflict.