Interim Ukrainian Prime Minister: Actions by Russian Military Is 'Declaration of War

Ukraine's Interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Sunday that actions taken by Russia's military forces in Crimea are "a declaration of war."

[sharequote align="center"]"We are on the brink of disaster."[/sharequote]

Yatsenyuk urged Russia to pull back their forces, saying, "We are on the brink of disaster."

New prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, speaks to lawmakers during a session at the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. Ukrainian lawmakers chose Arseniy Yatsenyuk as the new prime minister. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)

The news comes after Ukraine mobilized troops and called to duty individuals in their military reserves. Yesterday, Russia's parliament unanimously authorized Russian President Vladimir Putin's use of force in Ukraine.

President Barack Obama spoke with Putin by telephone for 90 minutes on Saturday and expressed his "deep concern" about "Russia's clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity," the White House said. Obama warned that Russia's "continued violation of international law will lead to greater political and economic isolation."

The U.S. also said it will suspend participation in "preparatory meetings" for the Group of Eight economic summit planned in June to be held at the Black Sea resort of Sochi, site of the just-concluded 2014 Winter Olympics.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Follow Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) on Twitter

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