Putin: Russia could not ignore calls for help
- 10 years ago
Over twenty thousand people gather in Moscow in support of the Crimean people.
Letters on the stage read: "We are Together."
Many these participants believe Crimea is Russian land.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) LAWYER FROM MOSCOW, ANATOLY, SAYING:
"I think we need to support (Crimea), because really it is our land, our grandfathers and grand- grandfathers shed their blood there."
But in Kiev, protesters gathered outside the Russian embassy... against Russia's military presence in Crimea.
According to President Vladimir Putin, Russia could not ignore calls for help from Russian speakers in Ukraine.
His spokesman defended Russia's stance:
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN'S SPOKESMAN DMITRY PESKOV SPEAKING THROUGH VIDEOLINK FROM SOCHI, SAYING:
"What is happening in the east (of Ukraine) and in Crimea does not have anything to do with the Russian Federation, these are not the processes initiated by anyone, moreover they ar
Letters on the stage read: "We are Together."
Many these participants believe Crimea is Russian land.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) LAWYER FROM MOSCOW, ANATOLY, SAYING:
"I think we need to support (Crimea), because really it is our land, our grandfathers and grand- grandfathers shed their blood there."
But in Kiev, protesters gathered outside the Russian embassy... against Russia's military presence in Crimea.
According to President Vladimir Putin, Russia could not ignore calls for help from Russian speakers in Ukraine.
His spokesman defended Russia's stance:
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN'S SPOKESMAN DMITRY PESKOV SPEAKING THROUGH VIDEOLINK FROM SOCHI, SAYING:
"What is happening in the east (of Ukraine) and in Crimea does not have anything to do with the Russian Federation, these are not the processes initiated by anyone, moreover they ar