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Hague terms Russia excuses to storm Ukraine 'baseless'

Iran Press TV

Tue Mar 4, 2014 6:28PM GMT

British Foreign Secretary William Hague has described as "baseless" the Russian president's justification and excuses to intervene in Ukraine militarily.

Speaking to lawmakers in the House of Common, the lower house of the UK parliament, on Tuesday William Hague referred to Russia's suggestion that ousted Ukrainian president Victor Yanukovych has asked Moscow to establish calm and order in his country.

'The suggestion that a president [Victor Yanukovych] who has fled his country then has any authority whatsoever to invite the forces of a neighbouring country into that country is baseless," Hague told MPs.

'Russia has also argued that Russian-speaking minorities in the Ukraine are in danger, but no evidence of that threat has been presented,' he added, while dismissing the Kremlin's justification for its actions.

Earlier on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin deplored Ukrainian opposition's power grab as a coup, noting that Yanukovych remains the legal president of Ukraine.

Speaking to media in a news conference at his residence outside the capital Moscow, the Russian president censured recent developments in neighbouring Ukraine as unconstitutional and a coup.

Putin admitted Ukrainian people's call for change, but pointed out that illegally changing the status quo could not be encouraged and endorsed.

The Russian leader, however, stressed that there is no need to use military force in the southern region of Crimea, but that he will use Russian forces to protect civilians in Ukraine, particularly ethnic Russians in eastern and southern parts of the country.

Meanwhile the British Foreign Secretary told lawmakers that the Ukrainian crisis has posed 'a threat to hard-won peace and security in Europe."

Hague insisted that all of Britain's options 'remain open' in response to the Russian actions.

He said that the UK government 'condemns any violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine which contravene Russia's obligations.'

MOL/PR