(VOVworld) – The Crimean Parliament voted on Monday to break away from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation.
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| Celebrations in Lenin Square, Simferopol, Ukraine, after polls closed in the Crimean referendum, March 16, 2014. (Photo: AP) |
It also called on the UN and other countries to recognize Crimea as an independent nation. The same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree officially acknowledging the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
The Kremlin Press Service reported that on Tuesday President Putin is scheduled to address both legislative houses in Moscow on Crimea’s merging with Russia.
US President Barack Obama issued sanctions against Russia following the Crimea referendum which the US and the EU have called "illegal". Under the sanctions, the US has frozen the assets and banned travel for 11 Russian and Ukrainian political figures, including former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, a Russian Deputy Prime Minister, and several advisors to the Russian President.
Nearly 97% of Crimea’s voters supported splitting from Ukraine to join Russia.