09:00
21.3.2014
Russia ranks 3rd on UN's @refugees list of countries of origin for asylum-seekers, right after Syria, Afghanistan http://t.co/tD4nOACbJ1
— RPW (@RusPoliceWatch) March 21, 2014
08:55
21.3.2014
Signing political part EU-Ukraine Association Agreement symbolises importance of relations & will to take it further pic.twitter.com/saT3c5itrw
— Herman Van Rompuy (@euHvR) March 21, 2014
08:53
21.3.2014
Video streaming: Roundtable + signing ceremony of the Association Agreement between the European Union and... http://t.co/ffqvt2tUBv
— EU Delegation UA (@EUDelegationUA) March 21, 2014
08:45
21.3.2014
Reuters reports that shares in Novatek, Russia's largest private gas producer, have fallen 12 percent in trading after the announcement of sanctions against co-owner and reputed Putin associate Gennady Timchenko.
08:41
21.3.2014
Russia's upper house, the Federation Council, is poised to ratify the annexation of Crimea any time now.
Speaking to the Federation Council this morning before the vote, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Western sanctions against Russian officials are irrational and will create unnecessary barriers.
Рада федерації Росії схвалить анексію Криму http://t.co/3h3icRDx6N
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) March 21, 2014
Speaking to the Federation Council this morning before the vote, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Western sanctions against Russian officials are irrational and will create unnecessary barriers.
08:39
21.3.2014
Crimeans prepare for changes to everyday life http://t.co/3ka3knW8YU @KyivPost #Crimea pic.twitter.com/V4cL0tbBk9
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) March 21, 2014
08:30
21.3.2014
Ukrainian and EU officials are about to kick off the signing ceremony for the political portion of an EU Association Agreement.
"We are already going to sign with the Prime Minister of Ukraine the political provision of the association agreement and seal the strong political partnership that brings Ukraine and the European Union closer together," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said after the EU summit dragged into the early morning hours today. "This is the democratic choice that Ukraine has made. It is our firm intention to sign the remaining parts of the agreement in due course. Europe is committed to Ukraine for the long term."
The fast-tracking of the signature ceremonies, which previously had been planned to take place by the end of the year, is intended to send a message to Moscow that Brussels remains committed to bringing former Soviet states into its orbit despite Russia's influence.
"We are already going to sign with the Prime Minister of Ukraine the political provision of the association agreement and seal the strong political partnership that brings Ukraine and the European Union closer together," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said after the EU summit dragged into the early morning hours today. "This is the democratic choice that Ukraine has made. It is our firm intention to sign the remaining parts of the agreement in due course. Europe is committed to Ukraine for the long term."
The fast-tracking of the signature ceremonies, which previously had been planned to take place by the end of the year, is intended to send a message to Moscow that Brussels remains committed to bringing former Soviet states into its orbit despite Russia's influence.
08:26
21.3.2014
The EU is expected to announce later today the names of the 12 additional Russians and pro-Moscow Ukrainians it target with asset freezes and travel bans over the Crimean annexation.
RFE/RL's correspondent in Brussels says they are due to be published in the EU's official journal around 1 p.m. local time.
RFE/RL's correspondent in Brussels says they are due to be published in the EU's official journal around 1 p.m. local time.
08:23
21.3.2014
Gunvor, the oil-trading company targeted by U.S. sanctions in part over ties to co-owner Gennady Timchenko, said that Russian billionaire sold his shares one day before the sanctions were announced on March 20. The company, which is registered in Cyprus, said Timchenko transferred his stake to Swedish partner Torbjorn Tornqvist in anticipation of "potential economic sanctions."
21:58
20.3.2014
Barring major developments, that concludes our live blogging for March 20.