Putin signs treaty for Crimea to join Russia


March 18, 2014 at 9:54a.m.

Putin signs treaty for Crimea to join Russia

MOSCOW (AP) — With a historic sweep of his pen, President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty today to annex Crimea, describing the move as correcting past injustice and a necessary response to what he called Western encroachment upon Russia’s vital interests. In an emotional 40-minute speech that was televised live from the Kremlin, Putin said “in people’s hearts and minds, Crimea has always been an integral part of Russia.”