The Russia - Ukraine Crisis -- News Updates March 21, 2014

Ukraine Signs EU Trade Pact As Russia Finalizes Crimea Annexation -- CNN

Brussels (CNN) -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk signed the political elements of a trade pact with the European Union on Friday, even as Russian lawmakers finalized annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region.

The signing in Brussels signals Europe's solidarity with Ukraine -- and carries additional symbolic force because it was the decision by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in November to ditch the trade pact in favor of closer ties with Russia that triggered the protests that led to his ouster in February and spiraled into the current crisis.

It also comes a day after the European Union and the United States slapped sanctions on Russian lawmakers and businessmen; Russia responded with its own list of sanctions against a number of U.S. lawmakers and officials.

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The Russia - Ukraine Crisis -- News Updates March 21, 2014

Putin completes Crimea's annexation as Russia investors take fright -- Reuters
Ukraine: Putin signs Crimea annexation -- BBC
Putin Signs Final Crimea Reunification Decree -- RIA Novosti
Crimea, Sevastopol officially join Russia as Putin signs final decree -- RT
Putin Signs Law Officially Annexing Crimea -- Voice of America
Putin signs Crimea annexation into law -- Al Jazeera
Russia annexes Crimea as EU, Ukraine sign landmark deal -- Irish Times

EU Signs Association Agreement With Ukraine -- Radio Free Europe
Ukraine crisis: EU signs association deal -- BBC
Ukraine's interim Prime Minister Yatsenyuk signs EU association agreement -- Deutsche Welle
European Union signs landmark political deal with Ukraine -- Reuters
EU, Ukraine sign political provisions of historic accord -- AFP
Ukraine finally signs the EU deal that started it all -- Christian Science Monitor

East Ukrainians fear crossfire of Russia 'visa war' -- AFP
Russian passports -- like it or not -- for new Crimea -- AFP

Ukrainian Police Detain Naftogaz CEO -- RIA Novosti
Russia Gathering Facts on Violence, Nationalists in Ukraine -- RIA Novosti
Ukraine TV chief beaten and forced to sign resignation letter -- The Telegraph
Ukrainian nationalists block RT YouTube video of brutal assault on TV chief -- RT
Death Toll From Unrest in Ukraine Rises to 103 -- RIA Novosti
Medvedev Warns Ukraine of Possible State Collapse -- RIA Novosti
Ukraine-Europe deal may cause unrest in east -- Charles McPhedran, USA Today
The divisions behind the Ukraine crisis -- BBC