Putin Admits Russian Troop Role in Crimea Annexation

[misskit]

Contradicting previous denials, President Vladimir Putin has admitted that Russia’s armed forces played a role in events leading up to Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, but denied direct involvement of his country's military in a referendum that was used to justify the move, according to an interview broadcast by German television.

“Our armed forces, let’s be frank, blocked Ukraine’s armed forces that were stationed in Crimea. But not for the purpose of forcing people to participate in the vote – that’s impossible to do – but to prevent bloodshed, and to allow people to express their personal views on how they would like to see their own and their children’s future,” said Putin in a pre-recorded interview with ARD TV, which aired late Sunday.

Putin also said he was convinced that in the case of Crimea’s annexation Russia did not violate international law. He compared the referendum on the peninsula to the 2008 vote on Kosovo’s independence which, he pointed out, was approved only by the former Serbian province’s parliament, not by plebiscite.

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[Neo]

Fair enough ... what price Geo-political stability for Russia..?

How many dead in Ukraine / Crimea and how long was the conflict..?

It's all about perspective.