Sir Tony Brenton: Crimea 'taken hostage' by Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has "taken Crimea hostage" as he is "determined to maintain Russian influence in Ukraine as a whole", a former British ambassador to Moscow has said.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Sir Tony Brenton also suggested that British Foreign Secretary William Hague should focus on trying to prevent the situation from escalating when he visits Kiev on Sunday.

"Ukraine may overreact to the Russian occupation of Crimea, and we could get into shooting engagements, which would be deeply disastrous," he added.