(VOVworld) - The Russian government continues diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in neighboring Ukraine. According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping talked by phone about the Ukrainian situation. They agreed that Moscow’s actions are appropriate to ensure the security of Russian citizens in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Moscow and Kiev held ministerial meetings to resolve the crisis. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Madrid for separate talks with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The same day, the Italian Foreign Ministry said that Russia has agreed to hold talks with NATO representatives on Wednesday to discuss the Ukrainian crisis. During previous press conferences, the Russian President denied accusations about Russia’s deployment of troops in Crimea. Putin said the US and the EU are backing an unconstitutional, disunited government which does not represent all Ukrainian citizens, so it has no legal status to determine Ukraine’s future. US President Barack Obama said that Russia has isolated itself through its actions. Obama acknowledged Russian interests in Ukraine but insisted that Russia has no right to use force to impose its will on Ukraine. Obama urged the US Congress and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to approve an economic bailout package worth 1 billion USD for the interim government in Kiev. The US President said this bailout package will ensure the possibility of a new general election in May. The same day, the Ukrainian Parliament approved a 610 million Euro loan agreement with the EU, which is aimed at stabilizing its financial system.