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| Crimea always part of Russia - Putin | Crimea always part of Russia - Putin |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Putin has told a special session of Russia's parliament that "in people's heart of hearts, Crimea has always been part of Russia". | President Putin has told a special session of Russia's parliament that "in people's heart of hearts, Crimea has always been part of Russia". |
| Mr Putin was speaking at the Kremlin, where he announced new laws for Crimea to join the Russian Federation and asked MPs to back the move. | |
| Crimean officials say 97% of voters backed splitting from Ukraine in a controversial referendum on Sunday. | Crimean officials say 97% of voters backed splitting from Ukraine in a controversial referendum on Sunday. |
| The EU and US have declared the vote illegal and imposed sanctions. | The EU and US have declared the vote illegal and imposed sanctions. |
| Crimea was taken over by pro-Russian forces in late February after Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych fled to Russia following months of street protests. | Crimea was taken over by pro-Russian forces in late February after Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych fled to Russia following months of street protests. |
| Following Sunday's referendum, the region's new leaders declared independence and applied to Moscow to join Russia. | Following Sunday's referendum, the region's new leaders declared independence and applied to Moscow to join Russia. |
| Mr Putin has recognised Crimea as a sovereign state and approved a draft bill on the accession. | Mr Putin has recognised Crimea as a sovereign state and approved a draft bill on the accession. |
| On Tuesday, in a televised address in front of both houses of parliament - and in the presence of Crimea's new leaders - he said those behind Ukraine's uprising were "extremists" who had brought chaos to Ukraine. | |
| Crimea, he said, "was and is an inseparable part of Russia", and the results of the referendum were "more than convincing". | |
| The people of Crimea were not prepared to put up with "this historical injustice", he said, insisting they had a right to self-determination. | |
| "The people of Crimea clearly and convincingly expressed their will - they want to be with Russia." | |
| Mr Putin praised the "courage, bearing and dignity" of Crimeans, and thanked all Russians for their "patriotic feeling". | |
| "Don't trust those who frighten you with Russia... we do not need a divided Ukraine." | |
| Russia, said Mr Putin, "will of course be facing foreign confrontation" in response to the Crimea move, "but we have to decide for ourselves, are we to protect our national interest or just carry on giving them away forever". | |
| The audience frequently applauded at length during his speech and gave him a standing ovation. | |
| The Ukrainian crisis began in November last year after President Viktor Yanukovych ditched an EU deal in favour of stronger ties with Russia. |