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UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia's U.N. ambassador says Ukraine's fugitive President Viktor Yanukovych asked President Vladimir Putin to use Russia's armed forces "to establish legitimacy, peace, law and order, stability and defending the people of Ukraine."
Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the U.N. Security Council Monday he was authorized to read a statement from Yanukovych — and show members a copy — which says that "as the legitimately elected representative" he believes "Ukraine is on the brink of civil war."
Russia has effectively seized control of Ukraine's strategic Crimean peninsula.
Churkin quoted Yanukovic, who fled to Russia, as saying "the life and security and the rights of people particularly in the southeast part in Crimea are being threatened," and continued: "So under the influence of Western countries there are open acts of terror and violence."
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