(CNN) -- Russian and American leaders paint starkly different pictures of Ukraine, blaming each other for a crisis that shows no signs of simmering down. A defiant Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that masked gunmen are fueling anarchy in Ukraine. He decried what he called an illegitimate government that illegally seized power in a coup with U.S. backing, arguing that his country has a right to use military force. U.S. President Barack Obama and his country's top diplomat said Ukraine's new government is democratically responding to the people's will. They warned of invading forces and a desperate Russia breaking international law.
@highlight
From afar, Obama and Putin exchange sharp words over Ukraine
@highlight
American and Russian leaders paint starkly different pictures of the situation
@highlight
Putin says his country has a right to use military force and claims there was a coup
@highlight
Kerry argues that Russia is telling falsehoods as it makes a case for invasion
Protesters there are waving posters depicting caricatures of @placeholder and declaring their willingness to fight against Russian forces, if necessary.