'Concern level = grave': Obama and Putin have 6th phone call since start of Ukraine crisis

https://twitter.com/NoahWehrman/status/455851917940629504

President Obama and Vladimir Putin had another phone call today in regards to the situation in Ukraine.

CBS News’ Mark Knoller has the details:

WH says Pres Obama expressed "grave concern" in phone call w/ Russian Pres Putin about actions in Ukraine by armed pro-Russian separatists.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 14, 2014

In the phone call that WH says was initiated by Putin, Pres Obama called for "all irregular forces" in Ukraine "to lay down their arms."

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 14, 2014

WH says Pres Obama urged Putin "to use his influence" with the armed pro-Russian groups to withdraw from the Ukraine bldgs they have seized.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 14, 2014

Further, WH says Pres Obama again stressed the importance of Russia withdrawing its troops from Ukraine's border to "defuse tensions."

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 14, 2014

In written statement, WH says Pres Obama "made clear" that the costs imposed on Russia will increase if its Ukraine actions persist.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 14, 2014

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Pres Obama told Putin "a diplomatic solution is still possible" but not if Russia continues "military intimdation" & "armed provocation."

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 14, 2014

Obama and Putin have spoken by phone a reported half dozen times since the start of the Ukraine crisis:

By my count, this was Pres Obama's 6th phone call with Putin about Ukraine since Feb. 21.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 14, 2014

With that out of the way…

https://twitter.com/mikemerc57/status/455853109688823808
https://twitter.com/GlennCarswell/status/455852614966460416

Heh.