The foreign ministers from Nato’s 28 signatories have agreed to suspend all “practical civilian and military co-operation” with Russia over its ongoing actions in Crimea.
Unmarked pro-Russian troops stormed a Ukrainian air force base in the Crimean city of of Belbek as well as another military base about 30 miles west of Simferopol according to Ukrainian officials.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has formalised Russia’s takeover of Crimea by signing the annexation into law, despite a new round of sanctions from the US and EU.
Now that Ukraine has lost Crimea, which seems certain to be reunited with the Russian Federation, the future of the remainder of the country depends on what happens in the urban, industrial and populous eastern regions such as the Donbas.
Ukraine is preparing to “quickly and efficiently” withdraw its troops and their families from Crimea, according to Kiev’s security chief.