MOSCOW, March 16. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have discussed the crisis in Ukraine by telephone and the referendum in Crimea on the peninsula’s status, the Kremlin press service reported.

“Putin said the Crimean population’s vote is realised in compliance with the norms of international law, in particular with Article 1 of the UN Charter that stipulates the principle of equality and self-determination of peoples,” the press service said.

“Russia will respect the choice of Crimean residents,” Putin said. The president expressed concern about the aggravation of the situation in eastern and east-southern regions of Ukraine, the press service said.

The Russian and German leaders also exchanged views on sending an OSCE mission to Ukraine to monitor the situation, the Kremlin press service said.