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Russia's Vladimir Putin recognises Crimea as nation Russia's Vladimir Putin recognises Crimea as nation
(35 minutes later)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree recognising Crimea as a "sovereign and independent state", officials say. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree recognising Crimea as a sovereign state, paving the way for it to be absorbed into Russia.
Sources said the decree would come into force immediately. The decree said it had taken into account Sunday's referendum in Crimea, in which officials said 97% of voters backed breaking away from Ukraine.
The move follows Sunday's referendum in Crimea in which officials said 97% of voters backed breaking away from Ukraine and joining Russia. The EU and US said the referendum was illegal and imposed sanctions on 21 officials from Russia and Ukraine.
The EU and US earlier imposed sanctions on a number of officials from Russia and Ukraine over the vote. Crimea was taken over by pro-Russian gunmen in late February.
The Russian presidential decree was issued "considering the expression of the will of the people of Crimea at the general Crimean referendum, which was held on 16 March 2014," the text of the decree said. The incursion came after President Viktor Yanukovych fled to Russia following months of street protests.
Earlier, the Crimean parliament declared independence from Ukraine and applied to join Russia. The Kremlin officially denies the gunmen are Russian soldiers, but concedes that MPs authorised Mr Putin to use force after a formal plea for help from Mr Yanukovych.
Crimea has been part of Ukraine since 1954, but much of its population is ethnic Russian.
More sanctions threatenedMore sanctions threatened
The referendum was called by the pro-Russian authorities in Crimea after the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych, who had sparked months of street protests by rejecting a planned EU trade deal in favour of closer ties with Moscow. The EU and US published separate lists of sanctions involving travel bans and asset freezes against both Russian and Ukrainian government officials and MPs.
Pro-Russian forces have been in control of Crimea since late February. Moscow says the troops are self-defence forces and not under its direct control. They included Crimea's acting leader Sergei Aksyonov and parliamentary speaker Vladimir Konstantinov.
The EU, US and authorities in Kiev have rejected the referendum as illegal. The US list included Dmitry Rogozin, a Russian deputy prime minister, Valentina Matviyenko, head of the upper house of the Russian parliament, and Mr Yanukovych.
The EU and US earlier published separate lists of sanctions against both Russian and Ukrainian government officials and MPs.
They included Crimea's acting leader Sergei Aksyonov speaker of parliament Vladimir Konstantinov.
The US list included Dmitry Rogozin, a Russian deputy prime minister, Valentina Matviyenko, head of the upper house of the Russian parliament and Mr Yanukovych.
US President Barack Obama said in a news conference that Washington stood "ready to impose further sanctions" depending on whether Russia escalated or de-escalated the situation in Ukraine.US President Barack Obama said in a news conference that Washington stood "ready to impose further sanctions" depending on whether Russia escalated or de-escalated the situation in Ukraine.
But he also stressed there was still a path to solve the crisis diplomatically.But he also stressed there was still a path to solve the crisis diplomatically.
'Negative spiral''Negative spiral'
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said those singled out for travel and asset bans were responsible for threatening Ukraine's territorial integrity and independence. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said those singled out were responsible for threatening Ukraine's territorial integrity and independence.
But there was still time to avoid "a negative spiral" in the situation, she added, urging Russia to withdraw its forces from Crimea.But there was still time to avoid "a negative spiral" in the situation, she added, urging Russia to withdraw its forces from Crimea.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the US measures reflected a desire to impose its own unilateral, unbalanced approach. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov accused the US of a "pathological unwillingness to acknowledge reality".
Ukraine's acting President Oleksander Turchinov said Kiev was ready for negotiations with Russia, but it would never accept the annexation of Crimea. He said they wanted to "impose their own unilateral, unbalanced approaches" on the rest of the world.
In a televised address, Mr Turchinov said that any actions inciting mass disorder would be viewed as "abetting the military aggressor and a crime against the state". Ukraine's acting President Olexander Turchynov said Kiev was ready for negotiations with Russia, but it would never accept the annexation of Crimea.
The Kiev authorities earlier said they had recalled their ambassador to Moscow for consultation.The Kiev authorities earlier said they had recalled their ambassador to Moscow for consultation.
According to the vote in Crimea's parliament, Ukrainian laws now no longer apply in the region, and all Ukrainian state property belongs to an independent Crimea. Crimea's regional parliament, which was disbanded by Kiev last week, earlier declared independence.
The peninsula will adopt the Russian currency, the rouble, and clocks will move two hours forward to Moscow time by the end of March. MPs said Ukrainian laws now no longer applied in the region, and all Ukrainian state property belonged to an independent Crimea.
The document approved by MPs also appealed to "all countries of the world" to recognise Crimean independence. The peninsula will adopt the Russian currency, and clocks will move two hours forward to Moscow time by the end of March, the MPs' declaration said.
The document also appealed to "all countries of the world" to recognise Crimean independence.
More than 10% of Crimea's population is ethnic Tatar, many of whom were sent to gulags by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
They were only able to return to Crimea after the collapse of the USSR, and many took no part in the referendum.
Ukrainian presidential hopeful Vitali Klitschko said he feared the Tatars would be targeted with "ethnic cleansing" if Russia was allowed to take over.