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Ukraine crisis: EU ponders Russia sanctions over Crimea vote Ukraine crisis: EU ponders Russia sanctions over Crimea vote
(35 minutes later)
EU foreign ministers are due to discuss further sanctions against Russia after a Moscow-backed referendum in Crimea backed a split from Ukraine.EU foreign ministers are due to discuss further sanctions against Russia after a Moscow-backed referendum in Crimea backed a split from Ukraine.
The 28-member bloc is considering a visa ban and an asset freeze against a number of Russian officials. Election officials in Crimea, where pro-Russian forces are in control, say 97% of voters backed joining Russia.
Election officials in Crimea, where pro-Russian forces took control in February, say 97% of voters backed joining Russia. Moscow has said it will accept the result. The government in Kiev described the vote as a "circus performance" and said it would not recognise the result.
The EU and US say the vote was illegal. The EU and US say the referendum was illegal, but Russia says it was consistent with international law.
US President Barack Obama has warned Moscow that Washington is also ready to impose "costs" over its actions in Ukraine.US President Barack Obama has warned Moscow that Washington is also ready to impose "costs" over its actions in Ukraine.
As polls closed on Sunday night, the White House said the international community "will not recognize the results of a poll administered under threats of violence", describing Russia's actions as "dangerous and destabilizing".
Assets freeze
The new authorities in Kiev say Russian troops moved in to Crimea after Ukraine's pro-Moscow president, Viktor Yanukovych, was ousted following months of street protests.The new authorities in Kiev say Russian troops moved in to Crimea after Ukraine's pro-Moscow president, Viktor Yanukovych, was ousted following months of street protests.
The Kremlin has officially denied deploying its troops in Crimea, describing the armed men without insignia as "Crimea's self-defence forces".The Kremlin has officially denied deploying its troops in Crimea, describing the armed men without insignia as "Crimea's self-defence forces".
Crimean leaders are expected to formally apply to the Kremlin on Monday to join Russia.Crimean leaders are expected to formally apply to the Kremlin on Monday to join Russia.
The Russian parliament had been expected to wait until Friday to begin debating the relevant legislation. But the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says it is now believed the process of absorbing Crimea could take place under existing laws.The Russian parliament had been expected to wait until Friday to begin debating the relevant legislation. But the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says it is now believed the process of absorbing Crimea could take place under existing laws.
Whatever the procedure is, the indications so far are that it will happen soon, says our correspondent.Whatever the procedure is, the indications so far are that it will happen soon, says our correspondent.
'Weak hand' EU foreign ministers are expected to gather in Brussels at 08:30 GMT.
The EU foreign ministers are expected to gather in Brussels at 08:30 GMT. The 28-member bloc is considering a visa ban and an asset freeze against a number of Russian officials.
The bloc has already suspended talks on an economic pact with Russia and an easing of visa restrictions.The bloc has already suspended talks on an economic pact with Russia and an easing of visa restrictions.
The ministers will now be toughening the measures by discussing a list of names of those who could be subject to an asset freeze and a visa ban.The ministers will now be toughening the measures by discussing a list of names of those who could be subject to an asset freeze and a visa ban.
However, the question remains whether it should just be the list of people related to the takeover in Crimea or should it target the inner circle around Russian President Vladimir Putin, the BBC's Europe editor Gavin Hewitt says. However, the question remains whether the target should just be the list of people related to the takeover in Crimea or the inner circle around Russian President Vladimir Putin, the BBC's Europe editor Gavin Hewitt says.
He adds that - not surprisingly - there are divisions among the 28 nations.He adds that - not surprisingly - there are divisions among the 28 nations.
One official said bluntly if you did not go after people in Moscow you were showing a weak hand. Others argued that Brussels could not impose bans on people it would be sooner or later have to negotiate with.One official said bluntly if you did not go after people in Moscow you were showing a weak hand. Others argued that Brussels could not impose bans on people it would be sooner or later have to negotiate with.
If an asset freeze and visa ban does not rattle Moscow or Russia makes further military moves into eastern Ukraine - then the EU has already warned of moving to another stage which would involve economic sanctions.If an asset freeze and visa ban does not rattle Moscow or Russia makes further military moves into eastern Ukraine - then the EU has already warned of moving to another stage which would involve economic sanctions.
Earlier, the EU said in a statement that the vote was "illegal and illegitimate and its outcome will not be recognised".Earlier, the EU said in a statement that the vote was "illegal and illegitimate and its outcome will not be recognised".
'Going home''Going home'
On Sunday night, thousands of Crimeans began to celebrate as the vote's first results were announced. Crimean voters had been asked whether they wanted to join Russia, or have greater autonomy within Ukraine. There was no option for those who wanted the constitutional arrangements to remain unchanged.
Local elections officials later said that with three-quarters of the ballots counted, some 95.7% of the voters backed re-joining Russia. The full results are expected later on Monday. On Sunday night, thousands of Crimeans began to celebrate as news of a landslide pro-Moscow result emerged.
Sergei Aksyonov, Crimea's pro-Moscow leader installed last month after the Russian takeover, appeared on stage in Crimea's regional capital, Simferopol.Sergei Aksyonov, Crimea's pro-Moscow leader installed last month after the Russian takeover, appeared on stage in Crimea's regional capital, Simferopol.
Backed by the Russian national anthem, Russian flags, and the personnel of Russia's Black Sea fleet, he told supporters that Crimea was "going home".Backed by the Russian national anthem, Russian flags, and the personnel of Russia's Black Sea fleet, he told supporters that Crimea was "going home".
Mr Aksyonov said Crimea's parliament, which was disbanded by the government in Kiev last week, would send a formal request to Moscow to join Russia on Monday. On Monday morning, the chairman of the regional election commission, Mikhail Malyshev said complete initial results showed voters were 96.77% in favour of joining Russia.
Some 58% of people in Crimea are ethnic Russian, with the rest made up of Ukrainians and Tatars.Some 58% of people in Crimea are ethnic Russian, with the rest made up of Ukrainians and Tatars.
Most of the Tatars that the BBC spoke to said they had boycotted the vote, and felt that life under the Kremlin would be worse.Most of the Tatars that the BBC spoke to said they had boycotted the vote, and felt that life under the Kremlin would be worse.
Refat Chubarov, leader of the Tatars' unofficial parliament, said the referendum was illegal, and held in a hasty manner under the control of Russian troops.
"The fate of our motherland cannot be decided in such a referendum under the shadows of the guns of soldiers," he told the BBC.
The Tatars were deported to Central Asia by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in 1944. They were only able to return with the fall of the Soviet Union and many want to remain in Ukraine.The Tatars were deported to Central Asia by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in 1944. They were only able to return with the fall of the Soviet Union and many want to remain in Ukraine.
But the referendum did not have an option for those who wanted the constitutional arrangements to remain unchanged.
Voters were asked whether they wanted to join Russia, or have greater autonomy within Ukraine.
Are you in Crimea? Did you vote in the referendum? What are your views on the result? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject heading 'Crimea vote'.Are you in Crimea? Did you vote in the referendum? What are your views on the result? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject heading 'Crimea vote'.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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