Defiant Yanukovych Urges Russia Restraint in Crimea
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Ousted Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych said he’s still the nation’s rightful president and urged Russia to refrain from military intervention in the southern Crimea region as tensions there flared.
Speaking publicly for the first time since leaving Ukraine, Yanukovych said the country should abide by a peace accord sealed a week ago with European Union diplomats under which he’d remain leader through December. His temporary replacement, Oleksandr Turchynov, said Russian troops were “directly involved” in the growing crisis in Crimea.