The tense, high-stakes standoff between Ukraine and Russia continued Tuesday, with both sides insisting they don't want war but publicly offering little evidence of their willingness to budge. Petro Poroshenko, a Ukrainian parliamentarian who has been charged with leading negotiations with the new government of Crimea -- a disputed region thought to be threatened by a Russian takeover -- told CNN's Christiane Amanpour that "today we (had) the first sign of contact between our minister of defense and Russia's minister of defense," as well as talks involving other ministers. "But it is not a negotiation, unfortunately," said Poroshenko, a billionaire businessman and former Ukrainian foreign minister. "We try to do our best to use any opportunity for peaceful negotiation. But ... we don't have any sign of hope ... from the Russian side."
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U.S. official: Germany's leader is trying to set up an exit strategy for Russia's Putin
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Ukraine official: Ukraine, Russian ministers talk, but no signs of breakthrough
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Putin denies sending troops into Crimea, says "local militias" are involved
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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says Russia made up reasons to intervene
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Should @placeholder troops intervene, Putin said, "It will be legitimate and correspond to international law because we have a direct request from a legitimate president and it corresponds to our interests in protecting people who are close to us."
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"His (political tenure) is finished, and he is a criminal," said @placeholder, "especially after yesterday's appeal to have foreign troops come here and start a war."
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While no blood has been spilled between the Ukrainian and Russian militaries, no one is breathing easy -- especially amid reports of @placeholder military facilities in Crimea being under siege.
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@placeholder troops and vehicles remain near the country's eastern border, according to Ukrainian officials.
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Russian troops and vehicles remain near the country's eastern border, according to @placeholder officials.