Ukraine crisis: Putin signs Russia-Crimea treaty
After a standing ovation, President Putin told parliament that figures from the Crimea vote were "more than convincing"
Continue reading the main story
Ukraine crisis
Sanctions explained
Analysis: This won't stop here
Waking in a different Crimea
The allure of 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 Ukraine's 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 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.
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.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said: "It is completely unacceptable for Russia to use force to change
borders on the basis of a sham referendum held at the barrel of a Russian gun."
Mr Putin later appeared before crowds in Moscow's Red Square, telling them: "Crimea and Sevastopol are returning to... their home shores, to their home port, to Russia!"
He shouted "Glory to Russia" as the crowds chanted "Putin!"
The Ukrainian navy has also reported that a Ukrainian officer was wounded in the storming of a military base in Crimea's main city, Simferopol, on Tuesday.
'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 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.
After a standing ovation, President Putin told parliament that figures from the Crimea vote were "more than convincing"
Continue reading the main story
Ukraine crisis
Sanctions explained
Analysis: This won't stop here
Waking in a different Crimea
The allure of 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 Ukraine's 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 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.
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."
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said: "It is completely unacceptable for Russia to use force to change
borders on the basis of a sham referendum held at the barrel of a Russian gun."
Mr Putin later appeared before crowds in Moscow's Red Square, telling them: "Crimea and Sevastopol are returning to... their home shores, to their home port, to Russia!"
He shouted "Glory to Russia" as the crowds chanted "Putin!"
The Ukrainian navy has also reported that a Ukrainian officer was wounded in the storming of a military base in Crimea's main city, Simferopol, on Tuesday.
'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 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.
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