(VOVworld) – The Kremlin press office said on Sunday that President Vladimir Putin told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that Russia would resort to "whatever measures are necessary in compliance with international law" if Russian speakers again face violence in Ukraine. During a telephone conversation, both leaders underlined the importance of preventing violence from escalating in Ukraine. Earlier, Ban calls for an “immediate restoration of calm and direct dialogue between all concerned to solve the current crisis.”

Talking on the phone on Saturday with French President Francois Hallande, Putin stressed a real threat for Russian citizens in Ukraine. Both Presidents shared their views on ways to deal with the situation and agree to maintain relations.

During a telephone talk between US President Barack Obama and President Putin on Saturday, both sides discussed in details the current complex situation in Ukraine. Putin said that Russia reserves the right to protect its interests in eastern Ukraine and the autonomous republic of Crimea as well as those of Russian speakers there if violence continues.

On Saturday, Putin proposed the Russian Senate to approve the use of Russian military in Ukraine territories. At an extra-ordinary meeting on the same day, the Senate gave President Putin a green light to proceed until social-political situation in Ukraine is normalized.

Following the decision by the Russian parliament, the UN Security Council convened a emergency consultancy meeting. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton urged Moscow to stop deploying its troops in Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen called on Russia to respect sovereignty and territorial and border integrity of Ukraine.

In another development, the autonomous republic of Crimea wants to reconsider its status. President of the Ministerial Council of Crimea Sergey Aksenov said a referendum on the future of Crimea will be held on March 30, instead of May 25.