Russia has legitimate interests in Ukraine: NSA Shivshankar Menon

New Delhi: Amid the crisis in Ukraine, India today said Russia has "legitimate" interests there and they should be discussed to find a satisfactory solution to the issue. "We are watching what is happening in Ukraine with concern... The broader issues of reconcilling various interests involved and there are, after all, legitimate Russian and other interests involved and we hope those are discussed, negotiated and there is a satisfactory resolution to them," National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon said.

The NSA was asked to comment on India`s assessment of the situation in Ukraine and its overall impact on Indian interests there. Menon expressed the hope that the "internal issues in Ukraine are settled peacefully" but refused to comment further saying "at this stage when everything is fluid, I don`t think we can tell you." Earlier this week, Russian troops had entered Ukraine claiming that they were entering Crimea region to protect the interets of Russians living there before President Vladimir Putin ordered his army to pull back. Ukraine`s new government came to power last week following months of pro-democracy protests against the country`s pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, and his decision to turn Ukraine towards Russia instead of the EU. Crimea is home to Russia`s Black Sea fleet and had been part of Russia since the late 18th century before Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred it to Ukraine as a "gift" in 1954.