An important clarification from Russia Today News.

[ProSense]

48. So why

"Russia allowed to have 25,000 troops in Crimea since 1999... & other facts you may not know."

...did Putin try to deny the forces were Russian? Why did Russia give the impression that they needed Ukraine's approval?

QUESTION: Mr President, a clarification if I may. The people who were blocking the Ukrainian Army units in Crimea were wearing uniforms that strongly resembled the Russian Army uniform. Were those Russian soldiers, Russian military?

VLADIMIR PUTIN: Why don’t you take a look at the post-Soviet states. There are many uniforms there that are similar. You can go to a store and buy any kind of uniform.

QUESTION: But were they Russian soldiers or not?

VLADIMIR PUTIN: Those were local self-defence units.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/transcript-putin-defends-russian-intervention-in-ukraine/2014/03/04/9cadcd1a-a3a9-11e3-a5fa-55f0c77bf39c_story.html

Yanukovych says he will not ask Russia to intervene militarily in Ukraine

<...>

“It would not be correct on my part to say what Russia needs to do,” Yanukovych said in his first public appearance since he fled Ukraine, turning up in Moscow this week. “But Russia cannot stand aside, it cannot be indifferent to the destiny of such a big partner as Ukraine,” he said.

“Russia needs to use all the leverage it has to prevent the chaos and terror in Ukraine,” he added. “It’s hard for me to give any kind of tips. I do not accept any attempt at intervention that would violate the integrity of Ukrainian sovereignty.”

<...>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/yanukovych-says-he-will-not-ask-russia-to-intervene-militarily-in-ukraine/2014/02/28/b0381734-a082-11e3-a050-dc3322a94fa7_story.html

Russia Claims Ousted Ukrainian President Asked For Military Intervention

The Russian envoy to the United Nations claimed on Monday that ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yakunovich asked the Russian military to intervene in Ukraine, Reuters reported.

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin read a letter from Yakunovich at a U.N. Security Council meeting.

"Under the influence of Western countries, there are open acts of terror and violence," Churkin read from the letter. "So in this regard I would call on the President of Russia, Mr. Putin, asking him to use the armed forces of the Russian Federation to establish legitimacy, peace, law and order, stability and defending the people of Ukraine."

Churkin held up the letter at the meeting, according to Reuters.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/yakunovich-letter-russia-military-intervention

That letter was dated after the force buildup and after Yakunovich fled.