BREAKING NEWS

Putin advances with procedure to bring Crimea into Russia

MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin pressed forward on Tuesday with the procedure for bringing Ukraine's Crimea region into Russia, informing his government and parliament of the Crimean leadership's proposal to join Russia.
The steps, announced by the Kremlin, came a day after Putin recognized Crimea as an independent state following a referendum in which its voters supported joining Russia. Putin is to address parliament later on Tuesday.