You're reading: Kremlin: Putin, Merkel, Cameron interested in de-escalation of Ukraine crisis

Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed in telephone talks their common interest in a de-escalation of tensions in Ukraine, the Kremlin press service reported on Sunday.

“Putin, Cameron and Merkel continued the discussion of an extremely complicated sociopolitical situation in Ukraine, as well as Crimea’s referendum, set for March 16. Despite differences, the parties expressed common interest in the earliest possible de-escalation of tensions and normalization of the situation,” the Kremlin press service said.

“Putin made a point that the steps being taken by the legitimate Crimean authorities are based on international law and aim to protect the legitimate interests of the population of the Crimea,” the press service said.

“The Russian president also said that the current Ukrainian authorities are doing nothing to curb the ultra-nationalist and radical forces’ outrages committed in Kyiv and many other regions,” the Kremlin press service said.

“The Russian, British and German leaders discussed what international efforts could be made to settle the crisis. They agreed to continue their intensive working contacts, as well as contacts between their countries’ foreign-policy chiefs,” the press service said.