'Don't behave like gangsters,' Ukrainian PM tells Russia

KIEV, Ukraine, April 22 (UPI) -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk called on Russia Tuesday to stop it's "gangster-like" behavior toward Ukraine.

Speaking alongside U.S. Vice President Joe Biden during his visit to Kiev, the prime minister chastised Russia for its actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine.

"We [Ukrainians] consider that in this century, in this world, no country can behave similar to armed gangsters, particularly countries that are permanent members of the UN Security Council, and which were members of G8 previously," Yatsenyuk said. "Russia must fulfill its international obligations. We demand one thing: fulfill international obligations and don't behave like gangsters in this century."

The Russian government, Yatsenyuk declared, must "immediately withdraw its special forces, which are deployed in eastern Ukraine, and withdraw its army from Crimea."

Both Biden and Yatsenyuk reiterated that the U.S. and Ukraine "will never recognize Crimea's annexation under any circumstances."

[Interfax Ukraine News Agency]