13:13
18.3.2014
Putin's website is wasting no time today. It's already posted the text of the Crimea treaty: kremlin.ru/news/20604
13:19
18.3.2014
Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine denounces "blatant land grab" in Crimea
Putin's decisionfor #Russia to annex Crimea = most blatant land grab in Europe since WWII. Will trigger additional Western sanctions.
— Steven Pifer (@steven_pifer) March 18, 2014
13:23
18.3.2014
Meanwhile, here's some more from the wires on U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's trip to Europe:
A senior administration official who is traveling with Biden is quoted as saying the American vice president will reaffirm the NATO allies of Article 5 commitments, discuss how to support Ukraine as it tries to stabilize its economy, and debate further steps to take in the weeks ahead. Biden is not expected to discuss any changes in the missile-defense strategy in Eastern Europe. (AP, WarsawVoice.com)
A senior administration official who is traveling with Biden is quoted as saying the American vice president will reaffirm the NATO allies of Article 5 commitments, discuss how to support Ukraine as it tries to stabilize its economy, and debate further steps to take in the weeks ahead. Biden is not expected to discuss any changes in the missile-defense strategy in Eastern Europe. (AP, WarsawVoice.com)
13:43
18.3.2014
Putin's website, still hard at work, is publishing the English translation of his speech here: eng.kremlin.ru/news/6889
13:44
18.3.2014
Lettering already being changed at #Crimea parliament. pic.twitter.com/RzcN8KIOED
— Alexander Marquardt (@MarquardtA) March 18, 2014
13:46
18.3.2014
This just in from RFE/RL's newsdesk:
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says that G8 leaders have suspended Russia's participation in the club of world powers due to Moscow's actions in Crimea.
Fabius, speaking today to the French radio station Europe 1, said, "We decided to suspend Russia's participation, and it is envisaged that all the other countries...will unite without Russia."
The other G8 members -- France, Great Britain, Germany, Canada, the United States, Japan, and Italy -- had previously said they would suspend preparations for the G8 summit in June scheduled to be held in the Russian resort city of Sochi.
Fabius caused a stir in Russia yesterday when he canceled a visit to Moscow and said France might suspend work on two helicopter-carrying warships it is building for Russia.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said those statements "undermine trust." (AP, Europe 1)
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says that G8 leaders have suspended Russia's participation in the club of world powers due to Moscow's actions in Crimea.
Fabius, speaking today to the French radio station Europe 1, said, "We decided to suspend Russia's participation, and it is envisaged that all the other countries...will unite without Russia."
The other G8 members -- France, Great Britain, Germany, Canada, the United States, Japan, and Italy -- had previously said they would suspend preparations for the G8 summit in June scheduled to be held in the Russian resort city of Sochi.
Fabius caused a stir in Russia yesterday when he canceled a visit to Moscow and said France might suspend work on two helicopter-carrying warships it is building for Russia.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said those statements "undermine trust." (AP, Europe 1)
13:52
18.3.2014
Crimea's old parliament being unceremoniously discarded to the dustbin of history.
Буквы. фото via @dpeleschuk pic.twitter.com/0eVlFeRSOZ
— ЄВРОМАЙДАН (@euromaidan) March 18, 2014
14:03
18.3.2014
Reshat Ametov, the Crimean Tatar found dead after being abducted at a protest rally, is being buried in Simferopol.
Funeral of Crimean Tatar who's body was found badly beaten. First victim since invasion began. pic.twitter.com/FgSJwyMfZG
— Simon Ostrovsky (@SimonOstrovsky) March 18, 2014
14:15
18.3.2014
UKR govt statement rejecting Russia's annexation of Crimea: http://t.co/6cfEo1b7ih
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) March 18, 2014
14:42
18.3.2014
It's all Europe's fault! The Russian foreign ministry has issued a statement blaming Europe for the political turmoil in Ukraine.
"It's time for the European Union to understand that the reason for the crisis in Ukraine lies not in Russia but in the actions of individual Ukrainian political forces and their foreign backers. Brussel's desire to push Ukraine ... to an artificial choice between the EU and Russia essentially provoked the deep political crisis in this country."
The foreign ministry added that Western sanctions against Russia "will not go without an adequate response."
"It's time for the European Union to understand that the reason for the crisis in Ukraine lies not in Russia but in the actions of individual Ukrainian political forces and their foreign backers. Brussel's desire to push Ukraine ... to an artificial choice between the EU and Russia essentially provoked the deep political crisis in this country."
The foreign ministry added that Western sanctions against Russia "will not go without an adequate response."