Yanukovych Declares He Is Ukraine's President
Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych struck a defiant tone in his first public appearance since he fled his country, saying he remained the legitimately-elected leader and that he was ready to fight for Ukraine.
During a lengthy press conference on Friday from Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Yanukovych also said denied ordering the shooting of protesters that left dozens dead.
He said he was forced to leave Ukraine, and accused his opponents of trying to take control of the country through terror and fear, describing the interim government in Kyiv as "illegitimate." He blamed the West for backing the protest movement.
The ouster leader said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone when he arrived in Russia, and they agreed that they will meet as soon as possible. He also called on Russia to use "all possible ways" to stop what he called the "chaos and terror" in Ukraine.
Later Friday, Putin broke his week-long silence on the crisis, releasing a statement ordering his government to work with Ukrainian and foreign partners to find a financial package to protect Ukraine's collapsing finances.
Yanokovych told reporters there needed to be an investigation into the deadly violence that killed dozens of protesters. And he apologized to the Ukrainian people for the recent events, saying he was responsible for allowing "lawlessness" in the country.
Scores of protesters were killed when Ukrainian riot police tried to disperse camps set up in Kyiv's Independence Square. The anti-government movement erupted after Yanukovych rejected an EU trade deal in favor of one with Russia last November.
The embattled president fled Kyiv last week and his exact whereabouts were not known. Ukraine's interim government issued an arrest warrant for him this week, accusing him and other officials of mass murder of protesters.
Crimea
Meanwhile in the southern region of Crimea, Ukraine's interior minister said Russian forces have taken control of the two main airports there.
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov described the development as a "military invasion" in a Facebook post Friday. He said armed Russian troops were blocking the Belbek airport in Sevastopol, where Russia has a naval base. Unidentified gunmen were also patrolling the international airport in Simferopol, the Crimean capital.
fuente: La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/us-britain-no-zero-sum-game-for-ukraine/1859367.html
During a lengthy press conference on Friday from Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Yanukovych also said denied ordering the shooting of protesters that left dozens dead.
He said he was forced to leave Ukraine, and accused his opponents of trying to take control of the country through terror and fear, describing the interim government in Kyiv as "illegitimate." He blamed the West for backing the protest movement.
The ouster leader said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone when he arrived in Russia, and they agreed that they will meet as soon as possible. He also called on Russia to use "all possible ways" to stop what he called the "chaos and terror" in Ukraine.
Later Friday, Putin broke his week-long silence on the crisis, releasing a statement ordering his government to work with Ukrainian and foreign partners to find a financial package to protect Ukraine's collapsing finances.
Yanokovych told reporters there needed to be an investigation into the deadly violence that killed dozens of protesters. And he apologized to the Ukrainian people for the recent events, saying he was responsible for allowing "lawlessness" in the country.
Scores of protesters were killed when Ukrainian riot police tried to disperse camps set up in Kyiv's Independence Square. The anti-government movement erupted after Yanukovych rejected an EU trade deal in favor of one with Russia last November.
The embattled president fled Kyiv last week and his exact whereabouts were not known. Ukraine's interim government issued an arrest warrant for him this week, accusing him and other officials of mass murder of protesters.
Crimea
Meanwhile in the southern region of Crimea, Ukraine's interior minister said Russian forces have taken control of the two main airports there.
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov described the development as a "military invasion" in a Facebook post Friday. He said armed Russian troops were blocking the Belbek airport in Sevastopol, where Russia has a naval base. Unidentified gunmen were also patrolling the international airport in Simferopol, the Crimean capital.
fuente: La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/us-britain-no-zero-sum-game-for-ukraine/1859367.html
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