BREAKING NEWS

US, Russian defense chiefs talk over Crimea turmoil

WASHINGTON - US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke on Saturday with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, a US official told Reuters, as Russian President Vladimir Putin secured his parliament's authority to invade Ukraine.
Asked about rumors some US military units had been on alert over turmoil in the Crimean peninsula, the official said the US focus was on diplomatic options. There was no change in the US military's stance, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.