KIEV, Feb. 25 - The International Monetary Fund is likely to send a technical support team to Ukraine soon in order to assist Kiev after its president was toppled by violent street protests over the weekend, IMF chief Christine Lagarde said on Tuesday.

"We will probably shortly send some technical assistance support to the country," Lagarde, the IMF's managing director, said during an appearance at Stanford University in California, Reuters reported. "Because this is our duty to a member if that member asks for that. That is clearly what is likely to happen."