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| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine crisis: Crimea parliament asks to join Russia | Ukraine crisis: Crimea parliament asks to join Russia |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| MPs in Crimea have asked Moscow to allow the southern Ukrainian region to become part of the Russian Federation. | MPs in Crimea have asked Moscow to allow the southern Ukrainian region to become part of the Russian Federation. |
| The parliament said if its request was granted, Crimean citizens could give their view in a referendum on 16 March. | The parliament said if its request was granted, Crimean citizens could give their view in a referendum on 16 March. |
| Ukraine's interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said the move had no legal grounds. | Ukraine's interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said the move had no legal grounds. |
| Crimea, a region whose population is mostly ethnic Russian, has been at the centre of tensions following the fall of Ukraine's pro-Moscow president. | Crimea, a region whose population is mostly ethnic Russian, has been at the centre of tensions following the fall of Ukraine's pro-Moscow president. |
| Pro-Russian and Russian forces have been in de facto control of the peninsula for several days. | Pro-Russian and Russian forces have been in de facto control of the peninsula for several days. |
| The announcement from Crimea's parliament comes as EU leaders meet in Brussels to discuss how to respond to Russia's troop deployment on Ukrainian soil. | The announcement from Crimea's parliament comes as EU leaders meet in Brussels to discuss how to respond to Russia's troop deployment on Ukrainian soil. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| 'Reunited' | 'Reunited' |
| The Crimean parliament resolved "to enter into the Russian Federation with the rights of a subject of the Russian Federation". | The Crimean parliament resolved "to enter into the Russian Federation with the rights of a subject of the Russian Federation". |
| It said it had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin "to start the procedure". | It said it had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin "to start the procedure". |
| "This means we have reunited with our motherland which we have been a part of for so long," said Crimea's deputy parliamentary speaker, Sergei Tsekov. | "This means we have reunited with our motherland which we have been a part of for so long," said Crimea's deputy parliamentary speaker, Sergei Tsekov. |
| The Kremlin said President Putin was aware of developments but no response has yet been made. | The Kremlin said President Putin was aware of developments but no response has yet been made. |
| If Russia agrees to Crimea's request, the Crimean people will be asked two questions in the 16 March referendum, the statement says: | If Russia agrees to Crimea's request, the Crimean people will be asked two questions in the 16 March referendum, the statement says: |
| The Crimean parliament said it had also voted to establish a host of new ministries independent of Kiev, including those of justice, internal affairs, information and energy. | The Crimean parliament said it had also voted to establish a host of new ministries independent of Kiev, including those of justice, internal affairs, information and energy. |
| Ukraine's new interim government does not recognise the leadership in Crimea - which was sworn in at an emergency session while the building was under siege from pro-Russian armed men last week. | Ukraine's new interim government does not recognise the leadership in Crimea - which was sworn in at an emergency session while the building was under siege from pro-Russian armed men last week. |
| Interim Economy Minister Pavlo Sheremeta said it would be unconstitutional for Crimea to join the Russian Federation. | Interim Economy Minister Pavlo Sheremeta said it would be unconstitutional for Crimea to join the Russian Federation. |
| But Crimea's First Deputy PM Rustam Temirgaliev dismissed the suggestion, saying Crimea views the new authorities in Kiev as illegitimate. | But Crimea's First Deputy PM Rustam Temirgaliev dismissed the suggestion, saying Crimea views the new authorities in Kiev as illegitimate. |
| UK Prime Minister David Cameron said the Crimean MPs' vote was a "serious step in the wrong direction". | UK Prime Minister David Cameron said the Crimean MPs' vote was a "serious step in the wrong direction". |
| Mr Yatsenyuk met the 28 EU leaders before their Brussels summit. | Mr Yatsenyuk met the 28 EU leaders before their Brussels summit. |
| He said that Ukraine had to be "one united" nation and that Ukrainians stood ready to "protect our country" if Russia extended its military action. | He said that Ukraine had to be "one united" nation and that Ukrainians stood ready to "protect our country" if Russia extended its military action. |
| He noted there was a "huge military imbalance", saying: "We have less arms, no nuclear weapons... but we have spirit." | He noted there was a "huge military imbalance", saying: "We have less arms, no nuclear weapons... but we have spirit." |
| He added: "Russian boots and tanks on the ground is unacceptable in the 21st Century." | He added: "Russian boots and tanks on the ground is unacceptable in the 21st Century." |
| Some EU members have been calling for tough sanctions on Russia, while others - led by Germany - prefer mediation. | Some EU members have been calling for tough sanctions on Russia, while others - led by Germany - prefer mediation. |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met in Rome on the sidelines of a conference on Libya. | US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met in Rome on the sidelines of a conference on Libya. |
| After the talks, Mr Lavrov said: "For now we cannot tell the international community that we have an agreement." | After the talks, Mr Lavrov said: "For now we cannot tell the international community that we have an agreement." |
| Pro-Russian gunmen moved in to seize strategic sites in Crimea after Viktor Yanukovych was ousted as the president of Ukraine following months of protests in Kiev. | Pro-Russian gunmen moved in to seize strategic sites in Crimea after Viktor Yanukovych was ousted as the president of Ukraine following months of protests in Kiev. |
| The demonstrations - by Ukrainians seeking closer ties with the West - turned violent in mid-February with more than 90 people killed in clashes with police. | The demonstrations - by Ukrainians seeking closer ties with the West - turned violent in mid-February with more than 90 people killed in clashes with police. |