Putin calls Ukraine events a coup

What happened in Ukraine could only be described as an anti-constitutional coup and armed seizure of power, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.

During a live interview with a local news channel, Putin said that by the time of signing the agreement with the opposition Feb 21, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych had in effect given up his power, Xinhua reported.

"I told him he had no chances to be reelected. So I don't understand why the opposition needs to seize power by force," Putin noted, adding that Yanukovych remains the sole legitimate president of Ukraine, although he has no power.

Putin said Yanukovych would have been killed if Russia did not give him refuge, and Moscow did so "on humanitarian motives".

According to Putin, Russia received direct request from Yanukovych about military assistance.

"If we'll see lawlessness in the eastern regions, we reserve the right to use all means to protect these people," Putin said, though he stressed that it would be the last resort.

"Our armed forces are brothers in arms, many officers know each other personally. I'm sure Russian and Ukrainian troops will be on the same side, like it has been happening in Crimea," Putin added.

As for the situation in Ukraine's autonomous republic of Crimea, the epicentre of the ongoing crisis, Putin said Russia encouraged protection of its military facilities there, and Moscow did it "timely and right."

Meanwhile, Moscow was not considering Crimea's accession to Russia and would not encourage such sentiments, he said. Only Crimeans themselves have to decide their own future, he added.

Asked by reporters whether he was concerned by the fact that sending Russian troops to Ukraine might trigger a war, Putin said Moscow would not go to war with Ukrainian people.