Ukraine crisis: Nobody should fear Russia, ambassador says

Moscow's ambassador to the EU has said that nobody has anything to fear from Russia and that the country does not have any "expansionist views".

Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, Vladimir Chizhov maintained that there was no intention for Russian troops to march into Ukrainian territory outside Crimea, and described Western economic sanctions on Russia as irrational.

The ambassador also said that Ukrainian forces in the Crimea were not hostages and had been given then three options - either to join the Russian army retaining their military ranks, to demobilise and become private citizens in Crimea, or to remain in the ranks of the Ukrainian army and leave Crimea.

You can watch the Andrew Marr Show in full on the BBC iPlayer.