U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry condemned Russia's intervention in Ukraine during an official visit to Kiev on Tuesday.
Kerry said the United States supports Ukraine's interim government, which was formed following Kiev-centered protests that culminated in the ouster of the former pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
On Saturday, Putin requested Russia’s Parliament pass a motion to deploy troops in Ukraine’s Crimea region, after the autonomous Republic of Crimea's Prime Minister - Sergey Aksenov - called "for assistance in guaranteeing peace in the territory of the autonomous Republic of Crimea."
The Kremlin said it would not disregard the appeal.
Russian armed troops remain in Crimea, where they have taken control of all top institutions, important roads and airports, in a move that Western countries consider a violation of international law.
Kerry was in official talks with the interim President Oleksandr Turchynov and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk on Tuesday.
- Turkey PM Erdogan tells Putin Ukraine crisis needs domestic solution
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Russia's President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Tuesday that it is the responsibility of Ukrainians - before any other external power - to find a solution to the crisis in the country.
Erdogan reportedly told Putin that instability in Ukraine would have a grave impact on the whole region.
In order for Crimean Russians and Tatars to live with Ukrainians in peace, cooperation between powers must be established in the region, Erdogan reportedly said. He emphasized that living up to international law and prinicples would be significant in overcoming the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
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