Ukraine crisis: Putin signs Russia-Crimea treatyLatest Live Analysis Sanctions explained Historic maps Advertisement After a standing ovation, President Putin told parliament that figures from the Crimea vote were more than convincing Continue reading the main story Ukraine crisisSanctions explained Cold War echoes Kievs view Small town Crimea President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of Crimea have signed a bill to absorb the peninsula into Russia. 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 Ukraines president was ousted, and declared independence from Ukraine on Monday. Kiev said it would never accept the treaty and the US has called a G7-EU crisis meeting next week in The Hague. US Vice-President Joe Biden, speaking in Poland, said Russias involvement in Crimea was a brazen military incursion and its annexation of the territory was nothing more than a land grab by Moscow. 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. 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. The moment Russian and Crimean leaders signed a treaty on making Crimea part of the Russian Federation 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 Crimeas 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 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. Crimeas head of government Sergei Aksyonov (2nd L), celebrates the signing (18 March 2014) Crimeas head of government celebrated as the signing was completed Russian tank in Simferopol, Crimea (18 March 2014) Kiev says the referendum was carried out while Crimea was under military occupation Ukrainian reservists train outside Kiev (18 March 2014) Ukraine has begun training reservists, fearing an escalation of the crisis Mr Putin criticised Ukraines 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. The West, he said, had behaved irresponsibly in backing the uprising, and dismissed concerns that Russia might go on to annex more of Ukraine. Continue reading the main story Crisis timeline 21 Nov 2013: President Viktor Yanukovych abandons an EU deal Dec: Pro-EU protesters occupy Kiev city hall and Independence Square 20-21 Feb 2014: At least 88 people killed in Kiev clashes 22 Feb: Mr Yanukovych flees; parliament removes him and calls election 27-28 Feb: Pro-Russian gunmen seize key buildings in Crimea 6 Mar: Crimeas parliament votes to join Russia 16 Mar: Crimea voters choose to secede in disputed referendum 17 Mar: Crimean parliament declares independence and formally applies to join Russia Ukraine crisis timeline Wording of ballot paper Law and order breakdown Is Russian intervention legal? Dont 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? 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. President Putin, Crimeas Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov, the regions Speaker Vladimir Konstantinov and the mayor of Crimeas 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. The bill must now be approved by the constitutional court and then ratified by parliament. The BBCs 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. The Ukrainian crisis began in November last year after President Viktor Yanukovych abandoned an EU deal in favour of stronger ties with Russia.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 14:43:15 +0000