DHAKA: Russian president Vladimir Putin on Saturday submitted a request to the upper house of parliament asking approval for the use of Russian troops in Ukraine.

Media reported the Kremlin as saying, reports The Straits Times.

‘In connection with the extraordinary situation in Ukraine and the threat to the lives of Russian citizens... I submit to the Federation Council a request to use the armed forces of the Russian Federation on Ukrainian territory until the normalization of the political situation in that country,’ the Kremlin quoted Putin as saying in the document.

Russia has also turned down a request by Ukraine to hold talks under the auspices of an agreement that guarantees the country’s territorial integrity, Interfax news agency quoted Ukrainian foreign minister Andrij Deshchitsya as saying.

Ukraine had asked for consultations with Moscow after accusing it of deploying its military in the Crimea region.

‘We are very worried about today’s information that Russia has refused to take part,’ media quoted the minister as saying.

On Saturday, Ukraine’s new leader said he did not recognize the authority of the pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, who claimed power after the region’s parliament was seized by pro-Russian gunmen Thursday.

BDST: 2021 HRS, MAR 01, 2014