PUTIN TO OBAMA: Here's Why We're Intervening In Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin spoke to Barack Obama on the phone Saturday to explain why Russia was sending troops to Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.

The Russian government released a statement on the phone call, which was translated into English by Breaking News Wire. From the statement:

In response to the concern shown by Barack Obama regarding possible plans of the use of Russian armed forces on the territory of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin drew attention to the provocative criminal acts by ultra-nationalist elements, which are in fact encouraged by the current authorities in Kiev.

The Russian President stressed the existence of real threats to the lives and health of Russian citizens and compatriots on Ukrainian territory. Vladimir Putin stressed that in the case of further spread of violence in the eastern regions of Ukraine and Crimea, Russia reserves the right to protect its interests and the Russian-speaking population.

The news that Russia would intervene in Crimea came after a tense few months in Ukraine among pro-Russian and pro-Western European people. Last week, the conflict there that culminated in the ouster last week of the country's pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych.