Crimea crisis

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to recognize Crimea as a sovereign and independent state, the Kremlin press service said Monday.

"Considering the will of the peoples of Crimea expressed at the all-Crimea referendum on March 16, 2014, I hereby decree that the Republic of Crimea, where the city of Sevastopol has a special status, be recognized as a sovereign and independent state," the decree said.

It entered into force upon signature, the press service said.

Related: Crimean parliament declares independence

The Crimean parliament Monday declared independence from Ukraine, after latest official results show 96.77 percent of Crimean voters chose to join Russia in Sunday's referendum.

The legislature passed an independence declaration during an extraordinary session, proclaiming the Black Sea peninsula an independent sovereign state, the Republic of Crimea. [More]

Crimea holds referendum on future	Crimeans celebrate vote to join Russia