Putin: we will have right to use all necessary means to defend citizens if lawlessness begins in eastern Ukraine
NOVO-OGARYOVO. March 4 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia is using all available methods if the lawlessness that occurred in Kyiv and western Ukraine spreads to the eastern regions of Ukraine and Crimea.
"If we see this lawlessness begin in the eastern regions, if people ask us for assistance, and we already have official requests from the incumbent legitimate president, we reserve the right to us all methods available to us to defend these citizens," Putin said during a meeting with journalists.
"We believe it is quite legitimate. It's an extreme measure. Moreover, I would like to say that we have always believed and will believe that Ukraine is not only our closest neighbor, but really a brotherly republic. And our armed forces are fellow servicemen and friends, and many of them know each other. I am confident that Ukrainian servicemen and Russian servicemen will not be on different sides of the barricades, but will be on the same side of the barricades," Putin said.
