PM call with President Putin: February 2014
The Prime Minister called President Putin to discuss the situation in Ukraine.
Following the call, a Downing Street spokesperson said:
The Prime Minister called President Putin today to discuss the situation in Ukraine, particularly the escalating tensions in Crimea.
The Prime Minister emphasised that all countries should respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. President Putin agreed, stressing that Russian military exercises in the area had been planned before the current situation in Ukraine.
The 2 leaders discussed how the international community could support Ukraine on the path to stability. They agreed that the free and fair elections that the interim government has pledged to hold are the best way to secure a positive future for Ukraine in which all Ukrainian people are represented. A future that would not involve forcing the Ukrainian people to make a choice between Europe and Russia.
They agreed the international community should also consider how to help the interim government tackle the economic situation.
They plan to keep in touch on the issue.