Ukraine’s ousted former President Viktor Yanukovich said in an interview Wednesday with the Associated Press and Russian state channel NTV that he was wrong to have asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to send troops to Crimea.

Ukraine’s former President Viktor Yanukovich said in an interview Wednesday with the Associated Press and Russian state channel NTV that he was wrong to have asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to send troops to Crimea.

Yanukovich said he would try to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to return the strategic Black Sea peninsula to Ukraine.

"Crimea is a tragedy, a major tragedy," he said.

"We must set such a task and search for ways to return to Crimea on any conditions, so that Crimea may have the maximum degree of independence possible... but be part of Ukraine."

Yanukovych said had he remained in power, he would have tried to prevent the referendum, calling it a "form of protest" against Ukraine's new pro-Western leaders.

In a referendum held on March 16, Crimea voted to secede from Ukraine in favor of union with Russia. Putin finalized the process on March 21 when he signed a bill into law officially annexing Crimea.

Yanukovich left office following months of demonstrations that began after he abruptly refused to sign an EU association agreement amid intense pressure from Moscow.

He was later forced to flee the capital Kiev after dozens were killed in street protests.