PUTIN BULLISH OVER CRIMEA AS EU LAYS TOOTHLESS SANCTIONS

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has approved a draft bill for the annexation of Crimea following a referendum in the peninsula that overwhelmingly supported seceding from Ukraine.

In an address to a joint session of Russia's parliamentary houses scheduled for 11am GMT today, Putin will deliver his position on the hugely contentious Crimean question. His is expected to set the stage for parliament to approve the absorption of Crimea.

The US and the EU retaliated over the referendum – which the west considers illegal – with sanctions against Russian and Ukrainian officials on Monday, a move widely seen as "toothless".

The sanctions came on the eve of Putin's address to the Russian parliament. On Monday night, he posted a decree on the Kremlin website recognising Crimea as a sovereign state, in what appeared to be a first step toward integrating Crimea as a part of the Russian Federation. The decree, which took effect immediately, said Moscow's recognition of Crimea as independent was based on "the will of the people of Crimea".

culled from guardian.co.uk