Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

The European Union (EU) has readiness to tighten sanctions against Russia, by extending its ban on investments in the Crimea.

The EU will never recognise Crimea's annexation by Russia, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said Monday after the first meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council.

According to AFP, the problem of Crimea was discussed at the meeting.

Russia will respond to fresh sanctions from the United States, deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said Dec. 13 after US lawmakers passed a bill to impose new penalties on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.

"Undoubtedly, we will not be able to leave this without a response," Ryabkov told Interfax news agency.

NATO warned about "wrongly assessing" Russian policy

MOSCOW -- Russia "does not want Ukraine to be split up," NATO intelligence officials say, according to the Russian media outlet RT.

They "warned their colleagues against wrongly assessing Moscow's policy on the crisis in eastern Ukraine."

BELGRADE - The cases of Crimea and Kosovo, whose declaration of independence opened room for redrawing of borders in the world and served as encouragement for secessionist movements, should not be viewed in equal light, participants said during the debate entitled 'From Kosovo to Crimea: Unilateral moves and manipulation involving the right to self-determination'.

Russia's position on Kosovo "firm and reliable"

BELGRADE -- Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Chepurin has said that his country's position not to recognize Kosovo as independent was "firm and reliable."

NATO countries and Ukraine strongly condemned on Dec. 2 a Russian military build-up in Crimea, accusing Russia of “deliberate destabilization” of eastern Ukraine.

NATO's top military commander warned Nov. 26 that Russia's "militarisation" of the annexed Crimea region could be used by Moscow to exert control across the whole Black Sea region.
      
"We are very concerned with the militarisation of Crimea," US General Philip Breedlove told a press conference in Kyiv.
      

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the West on Nov. 22 of trying to use sanctions imposed on Moscow in the Ukraine crisis to seek "regime change" in Russia. 

His comments stepped up Moscow's war of words with the United States and the European Union in their worst diplomatic standoff since the Cold War ended. 

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the West on Nov. 22 of trying to use sanctions imposed on Moscow in the Ukraine crisis to seek "regime change" in Russia. 

His comments stepped up Moscow's war of words with the United States and the European Union in their worst diplomatic standoff since the Cold War ended.