Russia backs sending troops to Ukraine, while protests there spread

Russia’s parliament granted President Vladimir Putin permission to use the country’s military in Ukraine and also recommended that Moscow’s ambassador be recalled from Washington over comments made by US President Barack Obama.

The unanimous vote formalised what Ukrainian officials described as an invasion of Russian troops in the strategic region of Crimea. With pro-Russian protests breaking out in other areas, Moscow could now send its military elsewhere in Ukraine.

“I’m submitting a request for using the armed forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine pending the normalisation of the sociopolitical situation in that country,” Putin said.

Vitali Klitschko, a senior Ukrainian politician and likely presidential candidate, urged that country’s parliament to mobilise the army in response to Russia’s move.

The developments sharply raised the stakes in the conflict after last week’s ousting of Ukraine’s pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych.  The UN Security Council was to hold  a second round of emergency talks.

Watch: Russia’s Putin to send troops into Ukraine as protests there spread