Russia President Putin: Ukraine suffered an armed coup; overthrowing of govt was unconstitutional -press conference
- Yanukovych reached agremeent with opposition to give up power; he did not give the illegal order to shoot; He is the legitimate President of Ukraine >- Russian regions will give financial aid to Crimea
- No need to send troops to Ukraine at this time but Russia has the option to do so; is a choice of last resort and to be used only in extreme case; Military exercises in Western Russia had been planned a long time ago