Vladimir Putin

Self-determination, change of borders "road to hell"

PRAGUE -- Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek has strongly condemned the referendum on independence of Crimea, held on Sunday.

He believes it is "a hellish concept that can have dire consequences."

Crimean forces occupy naval base in Sevastopol

SEVASTOPOL -- Crimean units for self-defense have occupied a Ukrainian naval base in Sevastopol on the Black Sea, reported the AP.

Armed Russian forces arresting Ukrainian army officers during an operation in Simferopol on Tuesday.

Greece’s prime minister and foreign minister walked a careful line on Tuesday between backing the European Union’s position on Crimea but also insisting that attempts should continue at reaching a diplomatic compromise with Russia over the Ukrainian region.

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the Crimean leadership declared independence based on the “well-known Kosovo precedent”, which was created by the western countries themselves.

Addressing the Russian parliament on Tuesday to urge lawmakers to ratify a treaty that would make Crimea part of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin compared Crimea's secession from Ukraine to Kosovo's secession from Serbia.

The Russian President spoke after 96.8 per cent of people who voted on Sunday in a referendum in Crimea backed calls to join the Russian Federation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the treaty which incorporates Crimea into the Russian Federation.

G-8, the group of eight leading economies has suspended Russia's participation in the club, France's Foreign Minister announced.

Die Welt's website quotes Laurent Fabius as saying on Europe-1 radio that "all the other countries, the seven leading countries, will unite without Russia". He also shared the news on his Twitter account.

Putin signs Crimea's admission to RF, mentions Kosovo

MOSCOW -- Russia and Crimea have signed a treaty of accession of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol to the Russian Federation, Voice of Russia has reported.

Crimea and Sevastopol are joining Russia as two separate regions, President Vladimir Putin said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has addressed the Parliament on the issue of Sunday's referendum in Crimea.

Over 96% of voters chose for the autonomous Ukrainian region to join the Russian Federation, a move which is not internationally recognized.

Turkey will close the Bosphorus for Russian ships, if there is violence against the Crimean Tatars, said Turkish prime minister Recep Erdogan.