Angela Merkel: Europe must act decisively

The German Chancellor called Russia's actions in Crimea an annexation.

Angela Merkel spoke for “wise but decisive” actions of Europe in the Ukrainian crisis. According to her, all efforts should be used to maintain the dialogue with Russia, DPA news agency reports.

The German Chancellor thinks the talks should be reasonably tough in what concerns the “protection of European values”. She said Russia's actions in Crimea violated the international norms set after the WWII, and were an annexation, censor.net reports.

The Crimean crisis will be discussed on March 12 in Warsaw at the talks between Merkel and Polish PM Donald Tusk. According to him, the new EU sanctions against Russia may take effect on March 17. Merkel, for her part, thinks further sanctions may harm.

Self-declared Crimean prime minister Sergei Aksyonov received his new status after the closed voting in the Crimean Verkhovna Rada on February 27. He gathered 61 out of 64 votes. The Crimean parliament consists of 100 members. Aksyonov was approved by parliament member from the Party of Regions Vadim Kolesnichenko.

On March 6, the Verkhovna Rada of Crimea made a decision to join the Russian Federation. As many as 78 out of 100 members of the local parliament voted for Crimea's joining the Russian Federation and holding a referendum on the region's future on March 16. The Crimean parliament adopted the declaration of independence of Crimea yesterday.