Via The Hill:

Russian President Vladimir Putin is dismissing warnings from President Obama and the West about Moscow’s incursion into Crimea.

In a statement released after Putin and Obama spoke by telephone for an hour, Putin harshly criticized Ukraine’s new government and said the Kremlin would not ignore cries for help from ethnic Russians.

Putin accused Ukraine’s interim government of undertaking “absolutely illegitimate decisions on the eastern, southeastern and Crimea regions.”

“Russia cannot ignore calls for help and it acts accordingly, in full compliance with international law,” Putin said.

Putin’s comments suggested Obama made little headway with the Russian leader during the call. Obama also on Thursday authorized sanctions on Russia to raise more pressure on Moscow.

Putin’s claimed that the pro-European leaders in Ukraine had executed an “anti-constitutional coup” in his statement.