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A meeting of the United Nations Security Council has heard the ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych asked Russia to send its troops to Ukraine to protect civilians.
Russia's UN ambassador says Mr Yanukovych wrote to the Russian leader Vladmir Putin on the weekend requesting help.
Thousands of Russian troops have entered Ukraine's Crimea region which has resulted in the European Union and the United States threatening to impose economic sanctions.
Kristina Kukolja with this report by Greg Dyett.
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(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
Russia's decision to send more than 10,000 troops into Ukraine has been labelled an unnecessary act of aggression by Western nations.
As US envoy to the United Nations, Samantha Power put it:
"There are so many options available to Russia to safeguard the rights of ethnic Russians and to address the concerns that have been raised, so many options short of military action. So the very simply questions for Russia today are why not support international mediation, why isn't that part of your remarks today, why not support an observer mission, why not engage directly with the Ukrainian authorities who want to resolve this crisis peacefully."
Quoting from what he says is a letter written by Victor Yanukovych to President Putin, Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin says Moscow was simply responding to a request for help.
"Ukraine is on the brink of a civil war, in the country there is chaos and anarchy, the rights of security and the rights of people physically in the south east part in Crimea are being threatened so under the influence of western countries there are open acts of terror and violence, people are being persecuted for language and political reasons so in this regard I would call on the president of Russia Mr Putin asking him to use the armed forces of the Russia Federation to establish legitimacy, peace, law and order, stability and defending the people of Ukraine.
Mr Churkin told the Security Council that as Russia sees it Mr Yanukovych is still Ukraine's legitimate leader and not the interim president Olexander Turchynov.
Russia's Foreign Minister has accused Ukraine's new leaders of attacking minority rights, and says ultra-nationalists control many areas of the ex-Soviet country.
Sergei Lavrov has defended Russia's actions, saying the country is merely asserting its basic rights.
"I repeat this is a matter of defending our citizens and our compatriots, on defending the most important human right- the right to life. Real progress in the area of human rights can only be achieved on the basis of equal cooperation, mutual respect in dialogue and strengthening trust among states. Only this will act as guarantees for legality in the territory for ensuring important human rights."
Russia's explanation for military intervention was dismissed as meaningless and a fabrication by western countries.
Australia was among the nations appealing to Russia to withdraw its troops.
Gary Quinlan is Australia's ambassador to the UN.
"The Australian government together with the broader international community which is speaking loudly and with one voice has urged Russia to stand down and withdraw its armed forces, abide by its international legal commitments and immediately take steps to reduce tensions. Russia must engage in direct dialogue with Ukraine in accordance with Article 7 of its own treaty on friendship, cooperation and friendship with Ukraine."
