Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Vladimir Putin signs treaty to make Crimea part of Russia

MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a treaty making Crimea part of Russia, in a historic redrawing of Russia's borders after he declared that the Black Sea region has always been "in the hearts" of his countrymen.

In a fast-moving sequence of events following Crimea's controversial secession referendum on Sunday, the Kremlin said Crimea was now considered part of Russia and no longer Ukrainian territory, shrugging off strong international objections.

"In the hearts and minds of people, Crimea has always been and remains an inseparable part of Russia," Putin said in an emotional address broadcast on television.

The move, which came sooner than expected, risks plunging the west and Russia into a crisis not seen since the Cold War and sent shock waves through the new authorities in Ukraine who took over after the ousting of pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych last month.

New signs going up on Crimea parliament. This is Tatar (either that or it's a random anagram with available letters) pic.twitter.com/1HTkDNLxWf

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