Russia upper house debates deploying troops to Ukraine

By AFP - Mar 01,2014 - Last updated at Mar 01,2014

MOSCOW – Russia's upper house, the Federation Council, on Saturday began debating a request from President Vladimir Putin to use Russian armed forces on the territory of Ukraine.

The extraordinary session began with a speech by Putin's envoy Grigory Karasin on the need to approve the request, which was also backed by the heads of the Federation Council's defence and foreign affairs committees.

Unlike most legislation in Russia, the use of armed forces abroad only requires the approval of the rubber-stamp Federation Council without any need for a preliminary okay from the State Duma lower house.

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