The Wall Street Journal reports,"russian President Vladimir Putin brushed off an initial round of Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis and defied warnings of stiffer punishment to come by taking another step toward annexing Crimea".
Mr. Putin is scheduled to speak Tuesday to the Russian parliament, and was widely expected to announce Moscow would formally absorb Crimea.
Mr. Putin is scheduled to speak Tuesday to the Russian parliament, and was widely expected to announce Moscow would formally absorb Crimea.
Undeterred by the mounting pressure, the Kremlin said late Monday that Mr. Putin had signed a decree recognizing Crimea as an independent state—a necessary step before Russia can proceed with annexation, in what would be the most significant land seizure in Europe in decades.
On Tuesday, Mr. Putin ordered the approval of a draft agreement on Russia's annexation of Crimea, according to an official Kremlin document.
The developments left Russia on the brink of absorbing a portion of another country while the West grasped for leverage to contain Mr. Putin and prevent further Russian incursions into Ukraine or elsewhere.
