俄罗斯派遣大使前往乌克兰协助冲突双方谈判

Russian president Vladimir Putin has telephoned with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron. All three expressed "utmost concern" over the deadly violence in Ukraine.

At the request of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Russia is sending an envoy to Kiev to mediate between the government and opposition. The Human Rights Commissioner Vladimir Lukin is taking the post. Meanwhile, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich has described the situation in Ukraine as a coup d’etat. The spokesman said Moscow blames the recent violence on radicals and extremists in the country. He also said Russia will assist Ukraine with achieving peace, but will not intervene in the country’s situation.