Defence Ministers' conversation reinforces Georgia-Ukraine relationship

Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania and his Ukrainian counterpart Ihor Teniukh have discussed the tense situation in Ukraine by phone on March 3.

The Georgian Defense Minister expressed hope that the current situation will be peacefully resolved.

During the call, the two Ministers also discussed the Georgian-Ukrainian strategic cooperation and its future perspectives, the Georgian Defence Minister's press centre reported.

The two Ministers also "agreed to keep in touch”.

Meanwhile Russia has vowed its troops will remain in Ukraine to protect Russian interests and citizens until the political situation has been "normalised", the BBC reported.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia was defending human rights against "ultra-nationalist threats".

Russia is now in de-facto military control of the Crimea region, despite Western condemnation of a "violation of Ukraine's sovereignty".

Ukraine has ordered full mobilisation to counter the military intervention.