18:32
18.3.2014
Following on Prime Minister Yatsenyuk's statement that the conflict with Russia has entered a "military stage," RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports that Ukraine's Defense Ministry has told its soldiers in Crimea that they may use their weapons to protect and save their fellow troops.
Міністерство оборони дозволяє військовим у Криму вдаватися до зброї після загибелі прапорщика http://t.co/o3cOuWm0dy
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) March 18, 2014
18:16
18.3.2014
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Western sanctions aimed at punishing Russia over its intervention in Ukraine are "absolutely unacceptable" and will have "consequences." The Russian Foreign Ministry said Lavrov delivered the message in a telephone call today with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. The Russian statement did not mention specifics.
17:58
18.3.2014
#EU does not and will not recognise the annexation of #Crimea & #Sevastopol to #Russia @euHvR @BarrosoEU http://t.co/jpYrlpmt9S
— Štefan Füle (@StefanFuleEU) March 18, 2014
17:55
18.3.2014
The White House, calling Moscow's move an "attempted annexation," says there are "more [sanctions] to come" on Russia.
"We condemn Russia's moves to formally annex the Crimean region of Ukraine. Such action is a threat to international peace and security and it is against international law. We would not recognize this attempted annexation," spokesman Jay Carney said.
"We condemn Russia's moves to formally annex the Crimean region of Ukraine. Such action is a threat to international peace and security and it is against international law. We would not recognize this attempted annexation," spokesman Jay Carney said.
17:11
18.3.2014
Vladislav Seleznyov, a Crimean-based spokesman for the Ukrainian armed forces, says it is unclear who carried out the attack that resulted in the reported death of the Ukrainian soldier cited by Prime Minister Yatsenyuk.
16:59
18.3.2014
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk says his country's conflict with Russia has moved to a "military stage." He added that Russian soldiers have started shooting at Ukrainian servicemen. He called such an act a "war crime."
16:58
18.3.2014
A joint statement by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Crimea says:
The sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine must be respected. The European Union does neither recognise the illegal and illegitimate referendum in Crimea nor its outcome. The European Union does not and will not recognise the annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol to the Russian Federation.
In line with the declaration of the Heads of State and Government of the EU of 6 March and our statement on Crimea of 16 March, the European Council will discuss the situation in Ukraine at its meeting this week and agree on a united European response.
In line with the declaration of the Heads of State and Government of the EU of 6 March and our statement on Crimea of 16 March, the European Council will discuss the situation in Ukraine at its meeting this week and agree on a united European response.
16:36
18.3.2014
Some key moments in President Vladimir Putin's speech at the Kremlin today to defend Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea and condemn Western -- and in particular, U.S. -- actions in Ukraine and around the globe.
16:15
18.3.2014
Kazakhstan, which itself has a sizable population of Russians, has issued a statement backing the referendum in Russian-occupied Crimea as a "free expression" of the peninsula's population and says it is "sympathetic" to Moscow's response.
16:09
18.3.2014
The soldier wounded earlier during a Russian raid on his army base in Simferopol has reportedly died.