V sobotu 1. marca horná komora parlamentu Ruska schválila žiadost Vladimíra Putina o použitie síl na Ukrajine. Putin žiadal o použitie síl “kým sa neznormalizuje politická situácia v krajine”.

“...Russia's Vladimir Putin submitted the request for troops "in connection with the extraordinary situation in Ukraine and the threat to the lives of Russian citizens", the Kremlin said. The upper house went into a special session almost immediately after Mr Putin made the request, and swiftly approved it.”