Russia's parliament approves military force in Ukraine


The Russian parliament approved President Vladimir Putin's request to utilize military force in Crimea, a disputed peninsula in Ukraine. Newly appointed Crimean Prime Minister Serhiy Aksyonov had appealed to Russia for help, citing the appearance on Friday of troops at airports and along roadways, and suggesting there was dangerous instability in Ukraine following protests and the removal of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Ukraine's interim President Oleksandr Turchynov disputed that storyline, saying Russia's actions amounted to "direct aggression against the sovereignty of Ukraine."
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Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
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