AKIPRESS.COM - Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama had a telephone conversation for detailed discussion of various aspects of the crisis in Ukraine and prospects for settling the situation, including implementing the peace plan proposed by President Petro Poroshenko.

The Kremlin said that Putin backs Ukraine's call for a ceasefire, but ultimate peace requires "ending (Ukraine) military actions and starting direct talks between the conflicting sides." The leaders also noted the importance of urgently resolving humanitarian issues, including immediate assistance to the people who have been affected, the Kremlin press service said.

Obama and Putin have clashed over Russian activity in Ukraine, including the questions of Crimea. The United States has accused Putin's government of fomenting separatist violence in eastern and southern Ukraine. Putin said he is protecting the interests of ethnic Russians living in Ukraine.

The White House and Kremlin statements said that Obama and Putin also talked about ways to end ongoing violence in Iraq and Syria, as well as efforts to ensure that Iran's nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful.