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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
15:48 22.2.2014
Tymoshenko freed from prison hospital.

She is reportedly flying to Kyiv

16:22 22.2.2014
Opposition says Tymoshenko's heading to Independence Square -- the base of the protests.
16:27 22.2.2014
According to a reporter from our Ukrainian Service, who was on the scene when Tymoshenko left the hospital, she spoke briefly to the crowd of supporters.

"Today our whole country can see the sun and the sky, because today the dictatorship fell. And it was not knocked down by politicians or diplomats, but by the people."
16:46 22.2.2014
Interfax -- Kharkiv Mayor and Regional Governor have left Ukraine and crossed into Russia, according to the spokesperson for the acting Interior Minister.

The regional governor, Mykhailo Dobkin had led a meeting of pro-Yanukovych regional governors earlier in the day in Kharkiv.
16:58 22.2.2014
First images of Tymoshenko coming in.



17:52 22.2.2014
Interfax: Newly elected speaker Turchynov says Yanukovych attempted to flee Ukraine but was prevented by border guards from boarding the plane.
18:10 22.2.2014
Tymoshenko has arrived in Kyiv.

18:30 22.2.2014
Two troubling images from the day.

Ukarine -- An alleged sniper and member of the pro-government forces is beaten by anti-government protesters in Kiev today.
Ukarine -- An alleged sniper and member of the pro-government forces is beaten by anti-government protesters in Kiev today.

Below, Sergei Kharchenko the head of the customs union is detained by members of the radical Right Sector in Uzgorod and tied to a poll.

18:34 22.2.2014
Photos of Tymoshenko release

18:39 22.2.2014

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