The White House on Thursday welcomed the efforts of Ukraine's parliament to stabilize the country, saying President Viktor Yanukovych "abdicated his responsibility." Yanukovych, who disappeared last weekend, left a "void" that Ukraine's lawmakers are attempting to fill, spokesman Jay Carney told reporters. The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday named an acting prime minister to serve until elections can be held. Carney said Washington expects the interim government to protect the security and civil rights of all citizens in Ukraine, which has a large Russian-speaking population. A Russian news organization reported that Yanukovych was staying in a Kremlin property just outside Moscow, and that he still considers himself president.
