Accusing the West of encouraging an "unconstitutional coup" in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin said today that Moscow reserves the right to use its military to protect Russians there but hopes it doesn't have to.
The Russian leader's first comments on Ukraine since its fugitive president fled came as US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Kiev to meet with Ukraine's new government.
Putin declared that Western actions were driving Ukraine into anarchy and warned that any sanctions the West might place on Russia for its actions there will backfire.
"We aren't going to fight the Ukrainian people," Putin said, adding that Russian military manoeuvres involving 150,000 troops near Ukraine's border had been planned and were unrelated to the current situation in Ukraine. He ordered the troops back to their bases today.
The US, meanwhile, announced a USD 1 billion aid package in energy subsidies to Ukraine, which faces a looming financial disaster. NATO members met in Brussels and said the alliance would hold talks tomorrow with Russian officials about Ukraine. World markets rose, buoyed by Putin's apparent efforts to de-escalate tensions.
"We are going to do our best (to help you). We are going to try very hard," Kerry said in Kiev. "We hope Russia will respect the election that you are going to have."
Tensions remained high in Crimea, with troops loyal to Moscow firing warning shots to ward off protesting Ukrainian soldiers. Heavily armed Russian forces have taken over the strategic peninsula, surrounding its ferry, military bases and border posts. Two Ukrainian warships remained anchored in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, blocked from leaving by Russian ships.
