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Moscow is speeding up its legal annexation of Crimea...
Russia's lower house of parliament has overwhelmingly approved a treaty to annex Crimea from Ukraine.
This as the United States and Russia exchange ***-for-tat sanctions.
Hwang Sung-hee reports. It was a vote of 444 against one... as Russia's
lower house of parliament on Thursday approved a treaty to annex Crimea from Ukraine.
The upper house is expected to complete ratification on Friday and President Vladimir Putin and
Crimean leaders will ink it early next week.
"This decision to accept Crimea into the Russian Federation complies with the international
law, including the principle of sovereign equality written in the UN Charter and the
right to self-determination."
As Russian forces take over more Ukrainian military bases in Crimea, Ukraine is speeding
up its withdrawal of soldiers. In parts of Crimea, residents are lining up
to apply for new passports.
"We are in Russia. We are Russian citizens now, what do we need Ukrainian passports for?
We will exchange them with great pleasure."
"It won't be worse, it will be better. It says a lot that the young are in support of
Crimea joining Russia, and all of us here have voted unanimously at the referendum."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with President Putin Thursday in Moscow, urging
for a peaceful settlement to the crisis. The UN chief travels to Kiev on Friday to
deliver the same message.
"They should really resolve this issue peacefully. But first and foremost, most important way
is to for Russia and Ukraine sit down together and engage in direct and constructive dialogue."
This come as U.S. President Barack Obama expanded sanctions to take in a Russian bank and some
high-profile Russian billionaires with close ties to Putin.
Russia also announced travel bans against nine prominent Americans, including senators
Harry Reid and John McCain. EU leaders are looking into further sanctions
on Moscow during a two-day European Union summit in Brussels that ends Friday.
Hwang Sung-hee, Arirang News.