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March 5, 2014

Putin Denies Russian Troops in Crimea, Calls Force a "Last Resort" 
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On Tuesday, unarmed Ukrainian forces held a standoff with Russian
counterparts after marching on a Russian position in Crimea, demanding
their withdrawal. The Ukrainians ultimately pulled back after several
hours. In his first news conference since deploying troops around Crimea
last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed he would use force
only as a "last resort."

Russian President Vladimir Putin: "What can be a reason to use the armed
forces? This is of course the last resort, simply the last resort. If we
see that lawlessness starting in eastern regions too, if people ask us
for help — and we have already an official address from the
current legitimate president — we reserve the right to use all
options at our disposal to protect those citizens."

Both Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have denied Russian
soldiers are occupying Crimea, saying the masked troops are "local"
forces. On Tuesday, President Obama criticized Putin's claims.

President Obama: "I know President Putin seems to have a different set
of lawyers making a different set of interpretations, but I don't think
that's fooling anybody. I think everybody recognizes that although
Russia has legitimate interests in what happens in a neighboring state,
that does not give it the right to use force as a means of exerting
influence inside of that state."