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| Ukraine crisis: EU adds names to Crimea sanctions list | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The EU has slapped sanctions on another 12 individuals over Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. | The EU has slapped sanctions on another 12 individuals over Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. |
| European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said any further steps by Russia to destabilise Ukraine would have "far-reaching consequences". | European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said any further steps by Russia to destabilise Ukraine would have "far-reaching consequences". |
| It comes hours after President Barack Obama announced further US sanctions against Russia over the Crimea crisis. | It comes hours after President Barack Obama announced further US sanctions against Russia over the Crimea crisis. |
| Crimea is in the process of being absorbed into Russia following a disputed referendum in the peninsula. | Crimea is in the process of being absorbed into Russia following a disputed referendum in the peninsula. |
| The referendum has been described as illegal by Kiev and the West. | The referendum has been described as illegal by Kiev and the West. |
| A treaty joining Crimea to Russia has now been approved by Russia's lower house of parliament - the Duma - and is expected to be ratified by the upper house on Friday. | A treaty joining Crimea to Russia has now been approved by Russia's lower house of parliament - the Duma - and is expected to be ratified by the upper house on Friday. |
| Also on Friday, the EU is due to sign the political section of a trade pact with Ukraine - the same agreement that Ukraine's ousted President Viktor Yanukovych declined to sign in November, sparking the current crisis. | |
| Broader sanctions threat | Broader sanctions threat |
| Earlier this week, the EU announced asset freezes and travel bans against 21 individuals in Russia and Ukraine. At the same time the US ordered similar sanctions against 11 individuals. | |
| Following a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday evening, Mr Van Rompuy described Russia's annexation of Crimea as "a clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and of international law". | |
| "We strongly condemn the unconstitutional referendum in Crimea. We will not recognise the annexation, nor will we recognise it in the future," he said. | "We strongly condemn the unconstitutional referendum in Crimea. We will not recognise the annexation, nor will we recognise it in the future," he said. |
| "There is no place for the use of force and coercion to change borders on the European continent in the 21st Century." | "There is no place for the use of force and coercion to change borders on the European continent in the 21st Century." |
| Mr Van Rompuy said that the 28-nation bloc was also cancelling an EU-Russia summit in June and member states would cancel regular bilateral summits. | Mr Van Rompuy said that the 28-nation bloc was also cancelling an EU-Russia summit in June and member states would cancel regular bilateral summits. |
| "We make clear that failure to settle the crisis peacefully, and any steps by Russia to destabilise Ukraine, will have far-reaching consequences - and by that we mean consequences on relations in a broad range of economic areas," he added. | "We make clear that failure to settle the crisis peacefully, and any steps by Russia to destabilise Ukraine, will have far-reaching consequences - and by that we mean consequences on relations in a broad range of economic areas," he added. |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the European Commission - the EU's executive - had been asked to prepare broader economic sanctions against Russia if the crisis escalated. | |
| "We asked the commission today to look at... very broad-based possible economic sanctions, and to prepare the ground for these sanctions," she said. | |
| Leaving the summit, British Prime Minister David Cameron said the EU was sending a "clear, strong and consistent message". | |
| "It has been hard work but we've made some real progress," he said. | |
| The names of the latest individuals to be targeted by the EU sanctions will be made public on Friday. | |
| Washington's latest measures target a further 20 people closely associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as a bank, Rossiya, controlled by his allies. | |
| In response, Russia said it was imposing its own sanctions against US officials and politicians. | |
| Meanwhile, Moscow has been tightening its grip on Crimea. | Meanwhile, Moscow has been tightening its grip on Crimea. |
| On Thursday, Russian-allied troops took over at least two Ukrainian navy ships at anchor in the port of Sevastopol. | On Thursday, Russian-allied troops took over at least two Ukrainian navy ships at anchor in the port of Sevastopol. |
| A Ukrainian defence ministry spokesman said at least 15 men were involved in the assault. | A Ukrainian defence ministry spokesman said at least 15 men were involved in the assault. |
| Pro-Russian forces effectively took over Crimea - with its predominantly ethnic Russian population - after President Yanukovych fled Kiev on 22 February following protests in which more than 80 people were killed. |