Putin To Chair High-Level Russian Talks In Crimea, Defying West
By Alexei Anishchuk
MOSCOW Tue Aug 5, 2014 1:33pm EDT
Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin, senior government officials and many lawmakers will visit Crimea next week, two sources told Reuters, in a defiant show of support for Russia's annexation of the Black Sea region despite tough new Western economic sanctions.
Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March after pro-Western protesters in Kiev drove from power a president with close ties to Moscow. The West condemned the move and imposed visa bans and asset freezes on some senior Russian officials.
Last week, after months of worsening tension, the United States and the European Union announced much tougher economic sanctions against Moscow over what they say is its support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
A source from the pro-Kremlin United Russia party said most of the 450 lawmakers from the State Duma lower house of parliament were expected to join Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Crimea for talks on August 14.
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"The main message (of the trip) is political, to show that Crimea is an integral part of Russia and that there's no turning back despite the sanctions," the United Russia source said, adding that all 450 Duma deputies were unlikely to make the trip since the parliament will be in recess.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/05/us-ukraine-crisis-putin-crimea-idUSKBN0G51YP20140805
