Putin justifies move in Ukraine amid NATO accusation, U.N. calls for 'cooler heads'

UNITED NATIONS/MOSCOW: Russia is trying to justify its possible military action in Ukraine as NATO accuses Moscow of "threatening Europe's security", while the United Nations calls for "cooler heads" and Ukraine warns of Russian "aggression."

In a telephone conversation with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country retained the right to protect its interests and Russian speakers living in Ukraine if violence spread in eastern Ukrainian regions and Crimea in the south.