Russian President Vladimir Signs Decree Recognizing Crimea's Independence Monday March 17,2014

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday March 17,2014 formally recognizing Crimea as a "sovereign and independent state," laying the groundwork for annexation and defying the United States and Europe just hours after they imposed their first financial sanctions against Moscow since the crisis in Ukraine began.

Putin issued his late-night decree after the region declared independence earlier in the day and asked Russia to annex it in keeping with results of a referendum conducted Sunday under the watch of Russian troops. The Kremlin announced that Putin would address both houses of the Russian Parliament on Tuesday, when many expect him to endorse annexation.

The decree signed on Monday effectively raised the ante on President Barack Obama after he froze assets and banned travel for 11 Russian and Ukrainian figures, including Vladislav Surkov, a longtime adviser to Putin; Dmitry O. Rogozin, a deputy prime minister of Russia; and Valentina I. Matviyenko, a Putin ally and the chairwoman of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia's Parliament.

Moscow moved to welcome back Crimea, which was part of Russia for much of the past few centuries, until the Kremlin transferred it to control of the Ukrainian Republic inside the Soviet Union in 1954; it remained under Ukraine when it became a separate country in 1991. Every faction in the Russian Duma submitted draft legislation on Monday officially reversing that 60-year-old decision.

The consensus in Moscow was so strong that even the last Soviet leader, Mikhail S. Gorbachev, whose role in the dissolution of the Soviet Union is deeply reviled in Russia, endorsed Crimea's move, telling Interfax that its independence "should be welcomed and not met with the announcement of sanctions."

He added: "If until now Crimea had been joined to Ukraine because of Soviet laws that were taken without asking the people, then now the people have decided to rectify this error."

Crisis timeline

• 21 Nov 2013: President Viktor Yanukovych abandons an EU deal
• Dec: Pro-EU protesters occupy Kiev city hall and Independence Square
• 20-21 Feb 2014: At least 88 people killed in Kiev clashes
• 22 Feb: Mr Yanukovych flees; parliament removes him and calls election
• 27-28 Feb: Pro-Russian gunmen seize key buildings in Crimea
• 6 Mar: Crimea's parliament votes to join Russia
• 16 Mar: Crimea voters choose to secede in disputed referendum
• 17 Mar: Crimean parliament declares independence and formally applies to join Russia