Russia’s Parliament (Upper House) has approved a request by the country’s premier Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine’s Crimea penisula, setting stage for a potential military confrontation with the USA and Britain.
The Upper house, the Federation Council, approved the request in an extraordinary session after Putin’s envoy Grigory Karasin, presented Putin’s request. The invasion had been supported by Russia’s defence and foreign relations committees.
President Obama had earlier warned Russia to respect the sovereignty of Ukraine.