Russian upper house approves use of force in Ukraine  —  Troops stand guard in Balaklava, Crimea, on Saturday, March 1.  Ukraine suspects Russia of sending new troops into Crimea and provoking separatist tensions in the region.  Crimea is an autonomous republic of Ukraine with an ethnic Russian majority.

Mikheil Saakashvili: Lessons From the Putin Wars  —  Georgia's former president, who has seen first-hand the sort of trouble the Kremlin is causing in Ukraine, on what to do about Moscow's threat.  —  Kiev  —  Between barricades of tires and impromptu memorials to the victims of Ukraine's revolution …

Condemnation isn't enough for Russian actions in Crimea  —  PRESIDENT OBAMA made an unscheduled appearance before the press at the White House Friday to warn Russia against a military intervention in Ukraine, which he said would be a “clear violation” of Russia's commitments …

Last Slide  —  SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine — Russian parliament's upper house unanimously approved the deployment of troops in the Crimea region of Ukraine on Saturday.  —  Defying a warning by President Obama a day earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin asked parliament for permission …

Russia wresting control of Crimea from Ukraine  —  (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin wrested control of the Ukrainian Black Sea region of Crimea from Kiev on Saturday citing a threat to Russian citizens and servicemen of the Russian Black Sea fleet based there.

PALIN MOCKED IN 2008 FOR WARNING PUTIN MAY INVADE UKRAINE IF OBAMA ELECTED  —  During the 2008 presidential campaign, Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin warned that if Senator Barack Obama were elected president, his “indecision” and “moral equivalence” may encourage Russia's Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine.