Ukraine's ousted leader Yanukovych calls loss of Crimea to Russia 'a tragedy'

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia -- Ukraine's ousted president, Viktor Yanukovych, said Wednesday that he was "wrong" to invite Russian troops into Crimea, and vowed to try to persuade Russia to return the Black Sea peninsula.

In his first interview since fleeing to Russia in February, Yanukovych said he hopes to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin to return the region he annexed in March.

Yanukovych, speaking to The Associated Press and Russia's state NTV television, called Russia's annexation of Crimea "a tragedy."

He fled Ukraine in February after three months of protests against his rule.

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  Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych gestures during an interview with The Associated Press, in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Wednesday, April 2, 2014. (AP / Ivan Sekretarev)