Putin redraws map of Europe

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of Crimea signed a bill to absorb the peninsula into Russia on the 18 March 2014.

Western powers condemned the treaty and a G7 and EU crisis meeting was called for the following week in The Hague.

The BBC and other news sources reported that Ukraine's military said that an officer had been killed in an attack on a base in Crimea on the 18 March 2014, the first such death since pro-Russia forces took control in February 2014.

Ukraine authorised its troops to fire in self defence.

Andriy Parubiy, Kiev's security chief, said that Ukraine was drawing up plans to withdraw its soldiers and their families from Crimea.

[For further information on developments of the 17-18 March 2014, and background information on the situation in Ukraine 2013-14 see the ESO: Background information related url hyperlinks below]

ESO: Key Source: Euromaidan - Protests in Ukraine 2013 - 2015 - Key source http://www.europeansources.info/record/euromaidan-protests-in-ukraine-2013-2015/

ESO: Background information: Press Release: Council conclusions on Ukraine, Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels, 17 March 2014 / EU adopts restrictive measures against actions threatening Ukraine's territorial integrity / Russia Recognises Crimea’s Independence http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-ukraine-foreign-affairs-council-brussels-17-march-2014-eu-adopts-restrictive-measures-against-actions-threatening-ukraines-territorial-integrity-russia-r/

BBC News, 18.03.14: Ukraine officer 'killed in attack on Crimea base' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26637296

RIA Novosti, 18.03.14: Pro-Russian Forces Attacked in Crimea, One Dead – Report http://en.ria.ru/world/20140318/188552565/Pro-Russian-Forces-Attacked-in-Crimea-One-Dead--Report.html

Spiegel Online International, 18.03.14: Ticking Timebomb: Moscow Moves to Destabilize Eastern Ukraine http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/how-moscow-is-moving-to-destablize-eastern-ukraine-a-959224.html

Ukraine: Government Portal: News, 18.03.14: P. Petrenko: RF's decision on accession of Ukraine's territory is gross violation of international treaties http://www.kmu.gov.ua/control/en/publish/article;jsessionid=936A9F38FA4DA691DD12AA3FABD0433B?art_id=247113922&cat_id=244314975

Ukraine: Government Portal: News, 18.03.14: Ministry of Justice to apply to ECHR and OSCE concerning on facts of violations during so-called referendum in Crimea http://www.kmu.gov.ua/control/en/publish/article;jsessionid=936A9F38FA4DA691DD12AA3FABD0433B?art_id=247113458&cat_id=244314975

Russia: President: News, 18.03.14: Address by President of the Russian Federation http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/6889

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 17.03.14: Crimea referendum – our experts react http://bit.ly/1kWSmTx

EurActiv, 19.03.14: Crimea standoff moves to ‘military stage’ as EU leaders gather http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/crimea-standoff-moves-military-s-news-534231

Ria Novosti, 18.03.14: Russia Supports Idea of OSCE Observer Mission in Ukraine http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140318/188551934/Russia-Supports-Idea-of-OSCE-Observer-Mission-in-Ukraine.html

Ria Novosti, 19.03.14: Ukraine Sends Protest Note to Russia Over Crimea Crisis http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140319/188565672/Ukraine-Sends-Protest-Note-to-Russia-Over-Crimea-Crisis.html

BBC News, 19.03.14: Russia warns West over Crimea sanctions http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26641217

EurActiv, 19.03.14: Brok: ‘Economic sanctions are much more costly for Europe than for America’ http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/eu-expects-us-tackling-ukraine-c-news-534212

France 24, 19.03.14: US to consider war games in Baltic, warns Biden http://www.france24.com/en/20140318-putin-crimea-reactions-west-ukraine-treaty-outrage/

The New York Times, 18.03.14: In Poland, Biden Promises Allies Protection http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/world/europe/ukraine-crisis-reaction.html

Euro|Topics, 19.03.14: Russia's annexation of Crimea completed http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER140371-Russia-s-annexation-of-Crimea-completed

Deutsche Welle, 19.03.14: This Cold War could last 10 years http://dw.de/p/1BS64

Ukraine: Acting President: News, 18.03.14: O. Turchynov: Crimea will be the territory of Ukraine http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/30156.html

RIA Novosti, 19.03.14: Putin Submits Crimea Reunification Treaty to Parliament http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140319/188578192/Putin-Submits-Crimea-Reunification-Treaty-to-Parliament.html

BBC News, 19.03.14: Ukraine 'preparing withdrawal of troops from Crimea' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26656617

NATO: News, 18.03.14: NATO Secretary General condemns moves to incorporate Crimea into Russian Federation http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_108100.htm

EUObserver, 19.03.14: Germany and UK diverge on Russia sanctions http://euobserver.com/foreign/123536

The Guardian, 19.03.14: Kiev announces plans to withdraw Ukrainian troops from Crimea http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/19/ukraine-plans-troop-withdrawal-from-crimea

Deutsche Welle, 19.03.14:Ukraine to pull troops out of disputed Crimea http://dw.de/p/1BSyx

The New York Times, 19.03.14: NATO Weighs Assistance for Ukraine to Dissuade Further Moves by Moscow http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/20/world/europe/nato-chief-russia-europe.html

EurActiv, 20.03.14: Crimea crisis gives NATO a lifeline http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/crimea-crisis-gives-nato-lifelin-news-534260

UK: GOV.UK: FCO: News, 21.03.14: In response to President Putin’s address to the Russian Parliament https://www.gov.uk/government/news/in-response-to-president-putins-address-to-the-russian-parliament

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