The United Kingdom is ready to guarantee loans of up to $500 million to support Ukraine and mitigate the economic consequences of Russian aggression. Italy is ready to allocate 110 million euros.

Western countries denounced the Russian incursion, launched as the U.N. Security Council was debating the prospect of intervention, and pledged to introduce tough punitive measures on the Kremlin.

It appears that Berdymukhamedov is taking full account of lessons in nearby Kazakhstan – plunged into deadly riots last month two years after a managed transfer of power.