MOSCOW (REUTERS) - Russia does not want Ukraine to be split apart, President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday, trying to assure Kiev and the West that he does not want to seize more of Ukraine after approving plans to make Crimea part of Russia.

"Don't believe those who try to frighten you with Russia and who scream that other regions will follow after Crimea," Putin said. "We do not want a partition of Ukraine, we do not need this."