MOSCOW, March 02, 23:14 /ITAR-TASS/. Measures Russia is taking in respect of Ukraine are fully congruent to the current extraordinary situation in that country, the Kremlin press service quoted President Vladimir Putin as saying during his telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday. 

The conversation was initiated by the German side worried over the development in Ukraine, and in its autonomous republic of Crimea in particular. The Russian president drew attention of the German chancellor to growing threats of violence on the part of ultranationalist forces in Ukraine, which endanger the lives and legal interests of Russian citizens and the entire Russian-speaking population of Ukraine.

“The Russian leader stressed that Russia’s measures were completely consistent with the current extraordinary situation,” the press service said.