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Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference at his country residence of Novo-Ogaryova outside Moscow on March 4.
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference at his country residence of Novo-Ogaryova outside Moscow on March 4.

Live Blog: Ukraine On The Brink

Summary

-- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Kyiv as U.S. officials announced Washington is preparing a $1 billion aid package for Ukraine.

-- Speaking at a press conference at his residence, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the change of government in Ukraine an "unconstitutional overthrow and an armed seizure of power."

-- Putin also said there are no considerations to annex Crimea and no intentions to provoke separatist sentiment. He said it is up to the citizens of Crimea to determine their own future.

-- In Crimea, there are standoffs between Russian and Ukrainian troops in their bases, with conflicting reports of ultimatums given to Ukrainian troops to surrender that come and pass.

-- Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin has said that Ukraine's ousted President Viktor Yanukovych sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting that he use the Russian military to restore law and order in his country.

-- In eastern Ukraine, pro-Russian demonstrators have occupied part of the regional government building in the city of Donetsk. Meanwhile, a few hundred pro-Russian activists tried but failed to force their way into the regional administration building in the southern city of Odesa.

NOTE: Live blog updates are listed according to local time in Kyiv

-- Glenn Kates / Luke Allnutt / Coilin O'Connor / Dan Wisniewski
11:51 22.2.2014
Pushkov tweets from Kharkiv:

"At the meeting in Karkhiv, there is not an ounce of separatism. The main theme in speeches: 'We aren't preparing to split the country, but to preserve it.'"

12:04 22.2.2014
12:53 22.2.2014
A so-called journalist blacklist was reportedly found at Yanukovych's presidential residence. Included is Tetyana Chornovil, a journalist who was brutally beaten after being forced off the highway in December. She has insisted the attack was as a result of her work investigating Yanukovych and his family.

12:56 22.2.2014
Yanukovych adviser Hanna Herman denies that he is resigning, says Interfax

And opposition MP had earlier said that the president would soon announce his decision to step down.

But a reporter for Channel 5 says this:

13:18 22.2.2014
13:30 22.2.2014
Pictures from President Yanukovych's private zoo
Protesters have reportedly asked people to bring pet food so they can feed the animals.



13:36 22.2.2014
Tymoshenko has been confined to a hospital while suffering from chronic back pain.

13:55 22.2.2014
Breaking
Speaking on Kharkiv local TV Yanukovych called events in Kyiv "a coup" attempt, comparable to the Nazis coming to power in Germany.

"We did everything we could to stabilize the political situation in the country. But this is what happened. I came to Kharkiv last night, I wanted to take part in today's meeting [of regional deputies], but I couldn't go, because the whole time I had to remain connected...I am trying to defend the people who the bandits are chasing today. Chasing from the places they live, the places they work. I'm doing everything to prevent further bloodletting of the people who are close to me."


14:55 22.2.2014
Via our Ukrainian Service. Klyuyev is reportedly travelling with Yanukovych.

15:15 22.2.2014
The Ukrainian parliament votes to remove Yanukovych from office. Elections set for May 25.

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