Vladimir Putin on Tuesday morning approved a draft bill for the annexation of Crimea in defiance of sanctions imposed on senior Russian officials by the US and EU.
The Russian president’s move will further escalate the crisis in Ukraine after Sunday’s overwhelming vote by Crimeans in a referendum to secede from Ukraine and join Russia.
The move marked a further step towards full annexation of the Black Sea peninsula ahead of a speech by Mr Putin to Russia’s parliament on Tuesday where he is expected to explain Moscow’s plans for the region.
The US and EU have urged Mr Putin not to move to absorb Crimea into Russia, a step they say could undermine principles of respect for national sovereignty that have been a cornerstone of Europe’s postwar security architecture. Washington and Brussels on Monday readied more serious sanctions against Russia if it does annex Crimea, or moves its army into eastern Ukraine.
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