Putin strongly defends Russian military action in Ukraine crisis

At his first meeting with reporters in the Ukraine crisis, Russian president Vladimir Putin strongly defended his military actions in Ukraine Tuesday. His manner was relaxed when he said he is not concerned about war breaking out because “there will not be fighting in Ukraine.” But if the violence spread to the eastern regions, Russia would be there to help the citizens. The Russian and Ukraine military are on the same side of the barricade, said Putin. That’s why no shots were fired between Russian and Ukraine soldiers in the Crimea. The so-called acting president has no power. The only legitimate president of Ukraine is Victor Yanukovich, said the Russian president; it was he who called for Russian troops to enter Ukraine.
 The people of Maidan square were protesting against Ukraine corruption which has reached a level undreamed of even in Russia, said Putin. The “anti-constitutional coup d’etat” in Kiev was long planned in Poland, Lithuania and other nations around Ukraine. It brought to power people “who had enriched themselves, the thieves, the oligarchs and the neo-Nazis.” They are not seeking democratic elections.