On Saturday Russian President Vladimir Putin got approval from his senate to send combat troops to Ukraine. But he has made it very clear in the past that no war is justified without approval from the United Nations.
Putin on Iraq in 2003: "The use of force abroad, according to existing international laws, can only be sanctioned by the United Nations. This is the international law."
Ria Novosti / Reuters
"I am convinced that it would be a grave error to be drawn into unilateral action, outside of international law," he said.
Armed servicemen wait near Russian military vehicles outside a Ukrainian border guard post in the Crimean town of Balaclava, March 1. / Via Stringer / Reuters
"Everything that is done without the UN Security Council's sanction cannot be recognized as fair or justified," Putin said in 2003.
Pro Russian riots near Crimea / Via Stringer / Reuters
Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich has said: "Any unilateral use of force without the authorisation of the U.N. Security Council, no matter how 'limited' it is, will be a clear violation of international law."
David Mdzinarishvili / Reuters
