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Ukraine crisis: Russia faces fresh sanctions over Crimea Crimea crisis: Merkel warns Russia faces escalating sanctions
(about 1 hour later)
European Union leaders are due to meet in Brussels to discuss further targeted sanctions in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Russia will face escalating EU sanctions if it does not take steps to ease the crisis over Crimea.
It comes as UN chief Ban Ki-moon visits Russian leaders in Moscow to urge a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Mrs Merkel, speaking ahead of an EU summit in Brussels, said the current political situation also means the G8 effectively no longer exists.
Tensions remain high in Crimea - pro-Russia forces seized two bases on Wednesday, including Ukraine's navy HQ in Sevastopol. Tensions remains high in Crimea after its leaders signed a deal with Moscow to split from Ukraine and join Russia.
Ukraine's navy commander was detained, but has now been released. Pro-Russian forces took over at least two military bases there on Wednesday.
Crimean leaders signed a treaty with Moscow on Tuesday to absorb the peninsula - an autonomous republic in southern Ukraine - into Russia, following a disputed referendum on Sunday. Ukraine's navy commander, Serhiy Hayduk was detained, but has now been released.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the political process was expected to be completed this week, Russia's Interfax news agency reports. Crimean leaders signed a treaty with Moscow on Tuesday to absorb the peninsula - an autonomous republic in southern Ukraine - into Russia, following a referendum which the West and Kiev say was illegal.
The lower house will vote on ratifying the Crimea treaty on Thursday, and the upper house on Friday. The measure is expected to sail through. Russia's lower house will vote on ratifying the Crimea treaty on Thursday, and the upper house on Friday. The measure is expected to sail through.
Mr Lavrov said Russia was protecting the rights of Russians, and would continue to "insist their rights and freedoms are observed fully in the countries where [our] compatriots are living". In a resolution on Thursday, Ukraine's parliament said the country would "never and under no circumstances end the fight to free Crimea of occupants, no matter how difficult and long it is".
Travel bans 'Political consequences'
Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and sailors remain trapped inside military bases on the peninsula, surrounded by heavily armed pro-Russia forces.
Earlier this week, a Ukrainian serviceman and a member of the pro-Russia self-defence force were killed in an incident in Simferopol.
The crisis comes nearly a month after Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was replaced by Western-leaning interim authorities.
Western leaders have denounced Russia's actions in Crimea as a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and a breach of international law.Western leaders have denounced Russia's actions in Crimea as a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and a breach of international law.
The EU, the US and a number of other countries have already imposed sanctions on Russian and Ukrainian individuals. The EU has already imposed sanctions on 21 people connected to Moscow's intervention in Crimea, and is expected to discuss expanding the sanctions when it meets on Thursday to include political and military figures close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Washington ordered the freezing of assets and travel bans on 11 individuals, while the EU imposed similar sanctions on 21 people. Speaking in Berlin, Mrs Merkel said the EU would "make clear that we are ready at any time" to increase sanctions against Russia "if there is a worsening of the situation".
EU leaders are expected to discuss extending their sanctions on Thursday, to possibly include political and military figures close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The EU will also, she said, "draw consequences for the political relations between the EU and Russia, as well as for relations between the G7 and Russia".
But the BBC's Matthew Price in Brussels says no binding announcements can be expected, and discussions are likely to be very heated. "It is obvious: as long as the political context for such an important format like the G8 does not apply, as is the case at the moment, the G8 doesn't exist anymore."
Diplomats are talking privately, however, of a wholesale realignment of both European energy policies - to make the EU less reliant on Moscow - and of relations with Russia itself, our correspondent adds. The BBC's Stephen Evans in Berlin says the chancellor did not say what the sanctions would be, and it is unclear whether Germany expects Russia to undo the integration of Crimea into Russia in order to avoid tough economic measures.
British Prime Minister David Cameron called German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the EU's response, a Downing Street spokeswoman said. Germany has substantial trade with Russia, he adds, and opinion polls indicate a widespread lack of support for economic sanctions.
UN principles The US has also ordered the freezing of assets and travel bans on 11 individuals, and has said it is considering expanding these.
The US has also said it is considering further sanctions. But President Barack Obama ruled out US military involvement in Ukraine on Wednesday, saying: "We do not need to trigger an actual war with Russia."
President Barack Obama ruled out US military involvement in Ukraine on Wednesday, saying: "We do not need to trigger an actual war with Russia." UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will meet President Putin in Moscow on Thursday before travelling to Kiev on Friday.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will meet President Putin in Moscow on Thursday before travelling to Kiev on Friday. He has called for a solution to the crisis guided by the principles of the UN Charter including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the unity of Ukraine.
Mr Ban has called for a solution to the crisis guided by the principles of the UN Charter including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the unity of Ukraine. The crisis comes nearly a month after Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was replaced by Western-leaning interim authorities.
Ukraine's navy headquarters in Sevastopol was one of two bases seized by pro-Russia forces in Crimea on Wednesday, with navy chief Serhiy Hayduk taken away. Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and sailors remain trapped inside military bases in Crimea, surrounded by heavily armed pro-Russia forces.
His whereabouts were unclear but local media said he had been summoned for questioning by prosecutors. Earlier this week, a Ukrainian serviceman and a member of the pro-Russia self-defence force were killed in an incident in Simferopol.
Moscow and Kiev had both urged his release. Ukraine's navy headquarters in Sevastopol was one of two bases seized by pro-Russia forces in Crimea on Wednesday.
Ukraine's Interim President Olexander Turchynov was later quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency as saying that Cmdr Hayduk was released on Wednesday night "along with all the other civilian hostages... seized by Russian soldiers and members of the self-declared authorities of Crimea". It was during the storming of the bases that the navy chief Serhiy Hayduk was taken away.
Ukraine said on Wednesday it was drawing up plans to withdraw its soldiers and their families from Crimea. Moscow and Kiev had both urged his release, and Ukraine's presidency confirmed on Thursday morning that he and other Ukrainians taken from the navy HQ had been freed.
Ukraine has said it is drawing up plans to withdraw its soldiers and their families from Crimea, though a number of troops are reportedly refusing to surrender.
Security chief Andriy Parubiy said they wanted to move them "quickly and efficiently" to mainland Ukraine.Security chief Andriy Parubiy said they wanted to move them "quickly and efficiently" to mainland Ukraine.
Would you be affected by the sanctions? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Crimea' in the subject heading and including your contact details. Are you in Crimea or the wider region? What are your thoughts on recent events? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Crimea' in the subject heading and including your contact details.