Obama, Putin discuss Crimea in second phone call

Even after an hour-long conversation earlier today, President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly aren't close to agreeing on a solution to the crisis in Crimea. According to the White House, Obama told Putin over the phone that Russia's military invasion of the Crimean Peninsula was in violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and insisted the two countries agree to a diplomatic resolution.
The proposed resolution, as prepped by the White House, includes calls for direct talks between Ukraine and Russia, international monitors to protect Ukrainians, and a requirement that Russian forces return to their bases. This was the second phone call between the two leaders since Russia invaded Crimea.
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Jordan Valinsky is the lead writer for Speed Reads. Before joining The Week, he wrote for New York Observer's tech blog, Betabeat, and tracked the intersection between popular culture and the internet for The Daily Dot. He graduated with a degree in online journalism from Ohio University.
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