Putin warns Ukraine against 'reckless' actions after martial law

"This underlines that the Ukrainian leadership bears full responsibility for creating another conflict situation and for the risks involved. All this was clearly done in conjunction with the Ukrainian election campaign," Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a phone call today with German Chancellor Angela Merkel,AFPThe Kremlin announced.

The phone call, initiated by Germany, came after Ukraine's parliament approved President Petro Poroshenko's proposal to impose martial law in some regions for 30 days following Russia's seizure of three Ukrainian warships in the Black Sea.Kerch Strait"The President asserted that the Ukrainian ships violated international law and ignored the rules of peaceful passage through the territorial waters of the Russian Federation," the statement added.

Putin also expressed hope that Berlin would influence the Ukrainian government to "prevent Kiev from making hasty decisions and reckless actions", andNote: Russian Border Service is ready to provide further explanations about the developments in the Kerch Strait incident..

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) accused three Ukrainian naval vessels of violating Russian territorial waters in the Black Sea on November 25 without following procedures, as well as acting aggressively and moving dangerously close to Russian patrol boats. The Russian coast guard had to use weapons and ramming measures to force the Ukrainian group of ships to stop, then captured all three and escorted them to the port of Kerch on the Crimean peninsula.

Russian officials said that the country has opened a criminal investigation into the "border violation" of the Ukrainian warships, and will interrogate crew members on the captured ships and will try and punish them appropriately.

Kiev rejected Moscow's accusations, saying its warship was seized after leaving Russian territorial waters, and demanded that Russian authorities immediately release the captured sailors and warship, but was not met.

The European Union (EU) has called for a de-escalation of tensions in waters off the Crimean peninsula. Britain, France, Poland, Denmark and Canada have accused Russia of aggression, while Germany’s chancellor has offered to mediate between Moscow and Kiev.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley criticized Russia for its reckless actions but did not specifically mention sanctions, instead calling on both sides to de-escalate tensions on the Crimean peninsula.