KIEV, March 16 - Russian state media said Crimeans voted overwhelmingly to break with Ukraine and join Russia on Sunday, as Kiev accused Moscow of pouring forces into the peninsula and warned separatist leaders "the ground will burn under their feet,” Reuters reported.

WASHINGTON, March 16 - The United States warned Russia on Sunday that Western sanctions were imminent and Moscow would pay an increasing price for its military intervention in Ukraine as the White House rejected a referendum in the Crimea region that it was powerless to stop.

BRUSSELS, March 16 - The EU, in a strongly worded statement, urged Ukraine to make progress on reforms.

"We must continue to insist on the progress in major reforms in Ukraine, in particular, judicial, electoral, and constitutional reform.

KIEV, March 16 – Ukraine’s authorities on Wednesday allowed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko leave the country on March 23 for a meeting with European leaders in Brussels.

MINSK, March 16 - Russia on Wednesday threatened to erect prohibitive trade barriers against Ukrainian goods if Kiev makes progress in talks and signs a free trade accord with the European Union.

KIEV, March 15 - President Viktor Yanukovych has instructed the government to take under its special control the situation with fuel prices and flour supply to regions, the presidential press service reported.

KIEV, March 16 – The new Ukrainian government consists of 29 ministers, which is the highest number of ministers in Europe.

"A total of 16-18 ministers work in an ordinary government of democratic Europe, including a premier and his or her deputies. In particular, the cabinets of Germany, Portugal and Spain have such a number of portfolios," Deutsche Welle reported.

KIEV, March 16 – Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who seeks to become the leader of united opposition in Ukraine, on Tuesday suggested nominating her close ally Serhiy Sobolev as the prime minister of the opposition government.

KIEV, March 16 - A Ukrainian government team will travel to Moscow next week for “very serious” talks with Russia over lowering natural gas prices, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Tuesday.

KIEV, March 16 – Ukraine suggested hosting a summit between U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as the two have apparently started planning a ceremony for signing a historic nuclear arms reduction treaty.