This was revealed Tuesday by the Kremlin Press Service.
Russia had also said that it recognizes Sevastopol , a Crimean Port that houses the Russian Black Sea Fleet base, a city with a special autonomous status within the Republic of Crimea.
The Russian leader has formally informed the Russian parliament of a request from Crimea to join Russia as a new federal subject with the status of a republic.
Crimea’s leadership has refused to recognise as legitimate, the new government in Ukraine that came to power following the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych last month.
The US and EU imposed sanctions on Monday on senior Russian officials, including visa bans and asset freezes, in protest of Russian support of Crimea’s actions.
Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama has warned Russia on the consequences.
He has said: “Today I am announcing a series of measures that will continue to increase the cost on Russia and on those responsible for what is happening in Ukraine. First, as authorized by the executive order I signed two weeks ago, we are imposing sanctions on specific individuals responsible for undermining the sovereignty, territorial integrity and government of Ukraine. We’re making it clear that there are consequences for their actions.”
Today Russian lawmakers will consider imposing reciprocal sanctions against the US and EU.
Meanwhile, French foreign minister has said Paris will consider canceling a 1.4-billion-euro deal to deliver two Mistral-class warships to the Russian Navy if Moscow provokes further escalation in Ukraine.
In addition, Canada joined the US and EU in announcing sanctions against 10 top Russian and Ukrainian officials following a referendum on Sunday in Ukraine’s Crimea that saw voters overwhelmingly support reunification with Russia.
Ukraine’s acting president said Kiev was ready for talks with Russia on Moscow’s takeover of Crimea, but it would never accept annexation of the peninsula.
Oleksander Turchinov made the statements in a televised address to the nation the day after the Crimean referendum to join the peninsula to Russia and moves by the parliament there to officially ask Russia to accept it as a subject.
With Ukraine’s new defense chiefs admitting the army is in poor shape and outgunned and outnumbered by Russian forces, several hundred volunteers trained at a centre near the Ukrainian capital of Kiev where they hope to become members of the new Ukrainian National Guard.
Ukraine’s acting-President announced they would raise the new
The government said the country had only 6,000 combat-ready infantry compared to over 200,000 Russian troops on its eastern borders.
