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| Putin seeks Ukraine troop deployment | Putin seeks Ukraine troop deployment |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Russia's President Vladimir Putin has asked his upper house of parliament to approve the deployment of Russian troops in Ukraine, the Kremlin says. | Russia's President Vladimir Putin has asked his upper house of parliament to approve the deployment of Russian troops in Ukraine, the Kremlin says. |
| It follows discussions by the lower and upper house on ways to "stabilise" the situation in Ukraine's Crimea region, where many ethnic Russians live. | It follows discussions by the lower and upper house on ways to "stabilise" the situation in Ukraine's Crimea region, where many ethnic Russians live. |
| Earlier, the Ukrainian defence minister said Moscow had already deployed some 6,000 extra troops to Crimea. | Earlier, the Ukrainian defence minister said Moscow had already deployed some 6,000 extra troops to Crimea. |
| Kiev has accused Moscow of deliberately trying to provoke a confrontation. | Kiev has accused Moscow of deliberately trying to provoke a confrontation. |
| President Putin submitted the request "in connection with the extraordinary situation in Ukraine and the threat to the lives of Russian citizens", the Kremlin said. | President Putin submitted the request "in connection with the extraordinary situation in Ukraine and the threat to the lives of Russian citizens", the Kremlin said. |
| He asked the upper house - which constitutionally must approve such a motion - for Russian armed forces to be used "until the normalisation of the political situation in that country". | He asked the upper house - which constitutionally must approve such a motion - for Russian armed forces to be used "until the normalisation of the political situation in that country". |
| Earlier, the newly-elected pro-Moscow leader of Crimea, Sergiy Aksyonov, appealed to Mr Putin for help to ensure peace on the peninsula - a request which the Kremlin said it would "not leave unnoticed". | |
| 'Provocation' | |
| The request follow days of military activity in Crimea during which unidentified armed men moved in to take over the regional parliament, state television and telecommunications hubs. | |
| Soldiers from Russia's Black Sea Fleet, which is based in Crimea, are reported to be guarding some administrative buildings and military bases. | |
| Amid the closure of airspace over Crimea's regional capital Simferopol on Friday evening, there were unconfirmed reports that Russian planes were flying in thousands of troops. | |
| Ukrainian Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh said on Saturday there are now an extra 6,000 Russian troops in Crimea, alongside an additional 30 armoured vehicles. | |
| Under the agreement governing the presence of the fleet in Crimea, the Russians must co-ordinate all troop movements outside the fleet's base with the Ukrainian authorities beforehand. | |
| Events in Crimea have angered the new interim government in Kiev and alarmed Western leaders. | |
| Ukraine's acting President Oleksander Turchynov accused Russia of trying to provoke Kiev into "armed conflict", but said they would not react. | |
| US President Barack Obama has warned of the "costs" of any Russian intervention in the Ukraine. | |
| Are you in the Crimea region of Ukraine? What is your reaction to this news of Russian troop deployment? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine' in the subject heading and including your contact details. |