UNITED NATIONS, March 4 (RIA Novosti) – Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych asked Russia to deploy its troops in Ukraine, Russia’s ambassador to the UN said Tuesday.
Vitaly Churkin presented what he said was a statement written by Yanukovych and dated March 1 at a UN Security Council meeting in New York.
The document cites “chaos and anarchy” and “acts of terror and violence induced by Western countries” as a reason for the invasion.
Yanukovych, who fled to Russia after months of anti-government protests in Ukraine culminated in violent clashes last month, had not commented on the document’s authenticity as of Tuesday. He said Friday that he opposed armed intervention in Ukraine.
Russia deployed an unspecified number of troops to Ukraine’s predominantly ethnic Russian Crimea last week. The Kremlin spoke of the possibility of a larger-scale invasion to protect Russian nationals and ethnic Russians residing in its southern neighbor.
Russian officials have denounced Yanukovych’s ousting by grassroots protesters who included militant far-right groups. Moscow says that in driving out the president, the opposition reneged on a settlement deal signed by Yanukovych, opposition leaders and European diplomats.
However, Churkin conceded at the Security Council meeting that Russia did not expect Yanukovych to be restored to the presidency.
“Our task is not to return Yanukovych to power – as if we don’t understand that Yanukovych will not return to power and will not govern the country anymore,” Churkin said.
But Russia does want the Yanukovych-opposition deal to be honored, Churkin said. The agreement stipulated snap presidential elections and constitutional reform to curb presidential powers.
