MOSCOW, April 17 -- President Vladimir Putin urged on Thursday Ukrainian authorities to hold dialogue with their eastern and southeastern regions.

"It's time for (Kiev) authorities to start dialogue with these regions' population, release inmates and find the solution via negotiation," Putin said a live chat with Russian public.

He reiterated that Moscow sees the forced ouster of president Viktor Yanukovych by Ukrainian parliament as "anti-constitutional coup."

Putin accused the Ukrainian authorities of neglecting the illegal February events and committing "another crime by using tanks and aviation against civilians."

He said Russia had to take certain measures to "protect people from any possibility the (Ukrainian) forces will be used against them."