RIA Novosti

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Russia’s capital Moscow to attend rallies both in support of and against the referendum in Crimea.

The Russian news agency ITAR-TASS reported 15,000 people marched in support of Crimea’s secession, while the counter-rally had numbered around 3,000.

Russia will wait for the results of Ukraine’s Presidential elections in May before making further payments from the USD 15 B loan package.

The first USD 3 B of the deal, agreed between ousted President Viktor Yanukovych and Vladimir Putin was transferred to Kiev in December.

Crimean authorities took control of Ukraine's Black Sea and Sea of Azov oil and gas fields off the coast of the peninsula.

The speaker of Crimea's parliament Volodymyr Konstantinov told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti that the Russian companies including energy giant Gazprom should be involved in extracting the resources.

Russia accused the EU of taking an “extremely unconstructive stance” on the Ukrainian political crisis by freezing negotiations with Russia.

“Russia does not accept the language of sanctions and threats, but if they are imposed they will not remain unanswered,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, quoted by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

Crimea to hold referendum on status on March 16

CRIMEA, KIEV -- Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea will hold a referendum on March 16 to decide on its future status, Itar-Tass has reported.

The news agency said the local government's deputy president, Rustam Temirgaliev, confirmed the date.

The referendum on the status of Crimеa was once more moved to an earlier date and will be held on March 16. 

According to Crimea's first deputy-prime minister Rustam Temirgaliev, Crimeans will be asked  to decide if the autonomous republic stays part of Ukraine or joins Russia. 
There will be two questions on the ballots. 

Ukraine will request financial assistance from the West, which could amount to USD 35 B.

The country's interim Finance Minister Yuriy Kolobov urged the United States and the European Union to decide on a financial rescue plan within the next 2 weeks, RIA Novosti reports.