Russia’s Federation Council unanimously approves sending Russian troops to Ukraine
© RTRussia’s Federation Council unanimously approves sending Russian troops to Ukraine
Russia's Federation Council has unanimously approved President Vladimir Putin's request to use Russian military forces in Ukraine. The move is aimed to settle the turmoil in the split country.

The upper house of the Russian parliament has voted in favor of sending troops to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, which would ensure peace and order in the region "until the socio-political situation in the country is stabilized."

The debate in the Federation Council has revealed that Russian MPs are united on the issue, with many of them sharing concerns on the recent events in Ukraine. The common notion was that since the power was seized in Kiev, the situation has only been deteriorating with radical nationalists rapidly coming to power and threatening the lives of those opposing their actions, most notably the Russian citizens living in Ukraine.

Taking the decision to use the Armed Forces in Ukraine does not mean that it will be carried out immediately, Grigory Karasin, Putin's official representative in the Federation Council, has said.

"The approval, which the President [Vladimir Putin] will receive, does not literally mean that this right will be used promptly," Karasin said.