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Ukraine crisis: Putin signs Russia-Crimea treaty Ukraine crisis: Putin signs Russia-Crimea treaty
(35 minutes later)
President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of Crimea have signed a bill to absorb the peninsula into Russia.President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of Crimea have signed a bill to absorb the peninsula into Russia.
Mr Putin told a special joint session of parliament that Crimea had "always been part of Russia" and the move had corrected a "historical injustice". Mr Putin told parliament Crimea had "always been part of Russia" and he had corrected a "historical injustice".
Crimea was taken over by pro-Russian forces in late February after Ukraine's president was ousted, and declared independence from Ukraine on Monday.Crimea was taken over by pro-Russian forces in late February after Ukraine's president was ousted, and declared independence from Ukraine on Monday.
Kiev has rejected the peninsula's secession from Ukraine. Kiev said it would never accept the treaty and the US has called a G7-EU crisis meeting next week in The Hague.
In a statement, the Ukrainian foreign ministry said: "We do not recognise and never will recognise the so-called independence or the so-called agreement on Crimea joining the Russian Federation."
US Vice-President Joe Biden, speaking in Poland, said Russia's involvement in Crimea was "a brazen military incursion" and its annexation of the territory was "nothing more than a land grab" by Moscow.US Vice-President Joe Biden, speaking in Poland, said Russia's involvement in Crimea was "a brazen military incursion" and its annexation of the territory was "nothing more than a land grab" by Moscow.
President Barack Obama has invited leaders of the G7 group and the EU to meet next week in The Hague to discuss the crisis. The Ukrainian foreign ministry said: "We do not recognise and never will recognise the so-called independence or the so-called agreement on Crimea joining the Russian Federation."
Germany and France quickly condemned the Russia-Crimea treaty. The UK was suspending "all bilateral military co-operation [with Russia] not subject to treaty obligations", Foreign Secretary William Hague told Parliament.Germany and France quickly condemned the Russia-Crimea treaty. The UK was suspending "all bilateral military co-operation [with Russia] not subject to treaty obligations", Foreign Secretary William Hague told Parliament.
'More than convincing''More than convincing'
Crimean officials say that, in a referendum held in the predominantly-ethnic-Russian region on Sunday, 97% of voters backed splitting from Ukraine.Crimean officials say that, in a referendum held in the predominantly-ethnic-Russian region on Sunday, 97% of voters backed splitting from Ukraine.
The EU and US have declared the vote illegal. Travel bans and asset freezes have been imposed on government officials and other figures in Russia, Crimea and Ukraine, but these have been largely dismissed as ineffectual in Russia.The EU and US have declared the vote illegal. Travel bans and asset freezes have been imposed on government officials and other figures in Russia, Crimea and Ukraine, but these have been largely dismissed as ineffectual in Russia.
In a televised address in front of both houses of parliament and Crimea's new leaders, Mr Putin said: "In the hearts and minds of people, Crimea has always been and remains an inseparable part of Russia."In a televised address in front of both houses of parliament and Crimea's new leaders, Mr Putin said: "In the hearts and minds of people, Crimea has always been and remains an inseparable part of Russia."
The referendum had been legal and its results were "more than convincing", he said.The referendum had been legal and its results were "more than convincing", he said.
"The people of Crimea clearly and convincingly expressed their will - they want to be with Russia," he said, and were no longer prepared to put up with the "historical injustice" of being part of Ukraine."The people of Crimea clearly and convincingly expressed their will - they want to be with Russia," he said, and were no longer prepared to put up with the "historical injustice" of being part of Ukraine.
Mr Putin criticised Ukraine's post-uprising leaders and those behind the unrest, saying they were "extremists" who had brought chaos.Mr Putin criticised Ukraine's post-uprising leaders and those behind the unrest, saying they were "extremists" who had brought chaos.
He also praised the "courage, bearing and dignity" of Crimeans, and thanked all Russians for their "patriotic feeling".He also praised the "courage, bearing and dignity" of Crimeans, and thanked all Russians for their "patriotic feeling".
The West, he said, had behaved "irresponsibly" in backing the uprising, and dismissed concerns that Russia might go on to annex more of Ukraine.The West, he said, had behaved "irresponsibly" in backing the uprising, and dismissed concerns that Russia might go on to annex more of Ukraine.
"Don't trust those who frighten you with Russia... we do not need a divided Ukraine" he said."Don't trust those who frighten you with Russia... we do not need a divided Ukraine" he said.
Russia "will of course be facing foreign confrontation," he said, adding: "We have to decide for ourselves, are we to protect our national interest or just carry on giving them away forever?"Russia "will of course be facing foreign confrontation," he said, adding: "We have to decide for ourselves, are we to protect our national interest or just carry on giving them away forever?"
He also thanked China for what he said was its support during the crisis. Beijing, which routinely avoids commenting on the affairs of other countries, had abstained from voting on a UN draft resolution condemning Russia for its actions in Crimea.He also thanked China for what he said was its support during the crisis. Beijing, which routinely avoids commenting on the affairs of other countries, had abstained from voting on a UN draft resolution condemning Russia for its actions in Crimea.
The audience frequently applauded Mr Putin at length during his emotionally charged speech, and gave him a standing ovation, with chants of "Russia, Russia".The audience frequently applauded Mr Putin at length during his emotionally charged speech, and gave him a standing ovation, with chants of "Russia, Russia".
President Putin, Crimea's Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov, the region's Speaker Vladimir Konstantinov and the mayor of Crimea's capital, Sevastopol, Alexei Chaliy, then signed a treaty on making the Black Sea peninsula a part of Russia.President Putin, Crimea's Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov, the region's Speaker Vladimir Konstantinov and the mayor of Crimea's capital, Sevastopol, Alexei Chaliy, then signed a treaty on making the Black Sea peninsula a part of Russia.
Earlier, Mr Putin had recognised Crimea as a sovereign state and approved a draft bill on its accession to the Russian Federation.Earlier, Mr Putin had recognised Crimea as a sovereign state and approved a draft bill on its accession to the Russian Federation.
The bill must now be approved by the constitutional court and then ratified by parliament.The bill must now be approved by the constitutional court and then ratified by parliament.
The BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says the process is likely to be completed by the end of the week.The BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says the process is likely to be completed by the end of the week.
Crimea was transferred from Russia to Ukraine while under Soviet rule in 1954.Crimea was transferred from Russia to Ukraine while under Soviet rule in 1954.
The Ukrainian crisis began in November last year after President Viktor Yanukovych abandoned an EU deal in favour of stronger ties with Russia.The Ukrainian crisis began in November last year after President Viktor Yanukovych abandoned an EU deal in favour of stronger ties with Russia.
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