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Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference at his country residence of Novo-Ogaryova outside Moscow on March 4.
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference at his country residence of Novo-Ogaryova outside Moscow on March 4.
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Live Blog: Ukraine On The Brink

Summary

-- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Kyiv as U.S. officials announced Washington is preparing a $1 billion aid package for Ukraine.

-- Speaking at a press conference at his residence, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the change of government in Ukraine an "unconstitutional overthrow and an armed seizure of power."

-- Putin also said there are no considerations to annex Crimea and no intentions to provoke separatist sentiment. He said it is up to the citizens of Crimea to determine their own future.

-- In Crimea, there are standoffs between Russian and Ukrainian troops in their bases, with conflicting reports of ultimatums given to Ukrainian troops to surrender that come and pass.

-- Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin has said that Ukraine's ousted President Viktor Yanukovych sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting that he use the Russian military to restore law and order in his country.

-- In eastern Ukraine, pro-Russian demonstrators have occupied part of the regional government building in the city of Donetsk. Meanwhile, a few hundred pro-Russian activists tried but failed to force their way into the regional administration building in the southern city of Odesa.

NOTE: Live blog updates are listed according to local time in Kyiv

-- Glenn Kates / Luke Allnutt / Coilin O'Connor / Dan Wisniewski
07:25 28.2.2014
07:39 28.2.2014
From the wires:
"We are here at the airport to ensure general order. We don't want radicals coming on planes from Kyiv, from UNA-UNSO [Ukrainian nationalist organization that is militantly opposed to Russian influence], people from Ukraine to come here and make trouble," a man calling himself "Vladimir," who said he was a volunteer helping the group of armed men who took control of Simferopol airport, told Reuters outside the airport.

"It was our initiative in order to stop the fire from spreading into Crimea. That's why we don't want radicalism to come here," he added. "We don't want fascism in Crimea. We want peace in Crimea."
08:04 28.2.2014
08:05 28.2.2014
08:07 28.2.2014
08:38 28.2.2014
08:45 28.2.2014
08:45 28.2.2014
08:46 28.2.2014
09:07 28.2.2014
From the wires:
Ukraine's parliament has called on the United States, Britain, and Russia to guarantee the country's sovereignty. It urged Moscow to cease any moves that could undermine the country's territorial integrity. Reuters reports that parliament also asked the UN Security Council to call a session to discuss the crisis.

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