Ukraine is drawing up plans to withdraw its soldiers and their families from Crimea, Kiev's security chief says. Andriy Parubiy said they wanted to move them "quickly and efficiently" to mainland Ukraine.
| They're just advancing in another direction... |
Mr Parubiy, in a news conference, set out more details on Kiev's position in light of the events in Crimea. He said arrangements were now being set up to introduce visas for Russian nationals travelling to Ukraine.
| That'll show those Russians. You'll need a visa to invade... |
And he said Kiev was seeking UN support to "proclaim Crimea a demilitarised zone", which would involve the withdrawal of Russian troops and the "relocation of Ukrainian troops to continental Ukraine as well as facilitate evacuation of all the civilian population who are unwilling to remain on the occupied territory".
| Does he not know that Russia has veto power in the Security Council? |
Ukraine is also leaving the Moscow-led Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) alliance, and is preparing for military exercises with the US and the UK, Mr Parubiy added.
| Obama will schedule the first exercises sometime for 2023... |
With reference to plans to withdraw troops and their families, Ukraine's interim Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya told the BBC that they would not be forced to leave if they did not want to. But he said: "The situation is unpredictable and uncontrolled sometimes, so that's why there is a danger also for the civilians". |