RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN SIGNS TREATY WITH CRIMEAN LEADERS ANNEXING THE UKRAINE..............

Following Sunday's vote in the Crimea, on taking away the independence of the Ukraine as a sovereign country since the end of the Cold War and the breakup of the Soviet  Union in the 1990's and placing it again within Russia; which passed by a favorable vote by Crimeans of 95.5%, and strongly opposed and declared illegal by Ukrainians, the United States, European Union, the United Nations Security Council, minus Russia, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization member nations - was responded to today by Russian President Putin's signing of a Treaty of Annexation, with Crimean officials.  Delivering a lengthy speech asserting Russia's right to fold the Ukraine back into Crimea and the Russian Federation, as a part of Russia - Putin maintains it has always been a part of Crimea / Russia historically.  The USA and the EU yesterday imposed a first level of sanctions on Russian leaders and have vowed to increase the degree of these sanctions against Russia and President Putin should he and his Government not desist from proceeding with the suppression and occupation of a free and independent Ukraine.  American Vice President has flown to Eastern Europe overnight to confer with the Leaders of other countries in the vicinity, including Poland, Estonia,and Latvia, among other Baltic countries..............fr.tdp