WASHINGTON - US Vice-President Joseph Biden, in phone talks with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev Monday morning, urged Russia to support an immediate deployment of international monitors to Ukraine.

Biden also repeated Washington's demand that Russia pull back its forces from Crimea, an autonomous republic of Ukraine now under control of Russian forces following the dismissal of pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Feb 22 by a parliament controlled by West-leaning opposition, who favor integration with the European Union instead of closer ties with Russia.

In addition, Biden called for Moscow to begin a "meaningful" political dialogue with the Ukrainian government.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told US President Barack Obama over the phone on Saturday that Russia retains the right to protect its interests and Russian speakers living in Ukraine if violence spreads in eastern Ukrainian regions and Crimea, where Russia has its Black Sea Fleet based.