AKIPRESS.COM - President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin said in phone conversations with the German and British leaders on March 9 that Crimea’s decision to secede from Ukraine and join Russia was in the framework of the international law, RIA Novosti reported citing the press service of the Kremlin.

President Putin discussed international efforts to settle the crisis in Ukraine and its breakaway region Crimea with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron.

He stressed the steps taken by the legitimate government in Crimea are based on the international law and are intended to defend the legitimate interests of Crimean residents.

Ukraine has lost control of Crimea in recent days as thousands of troops without insignia swarmed the area, taking control of administration buildings and taking over military bases. The Kremlin denied they were Russian, saying they were local militias.