Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill that completes Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Earlier, he said Russia would not further retaliate against expanded U.S. sanctions, as Russia’s upper house of parliament endorsed the annexation. The upper house of Parliament voted unanimously on Friday to incorporate Crimea, after a hastily called referendum, in which residents of the Black Sea peninsula overwhelmingly backed breaking off from Ukraine and joining Russia. Ukraine and the West have rejected the vote, held two weeks after Russian troops took over Crimea. The move was earlier approved by the lower house.

Meanwhile, in Brussels, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and EU leaders signed an association agreement that was part of the pact that former President Viktor Yanukovich rejected in November in favor of a $15 billion bailout from Russia. The deal commits Ukraine and the EU to closer political and economic cooperation, although more substantial parts of the agreement concerning free trade will only be signed after Ukraine has held new presidential elections in May. Van Rompuy, the European Council president, said the agreement would bring Ukraine and its 46 million people closer to the heart of Europe and a “European way of life.”

 —Prashant Tewari, Editor-in-Chief

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill that completes Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Earlier, he said Russia would not further retaliate against expanded U.S. sanctions, as Russia’s upper house of parliament endorsed the annexation. The upper house of Parliament voted unanimously on Friday to incorporate Crimea, after a hastily called referendum, in which residents of the Black Sea peninsula overwhelmingly backed breaking off from Ukraine and joining Russia. Ukraine and the West have rejected the vote, held two weeks after Russian troops took over Crimea. The move was earlier approved by the lower house.

Meanwhile, in Brussels, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and EU leaders signed an association agreement that was part of the pact that former President Viktor Yanukovich rejected in November in favor of a $15 billion bailout from Russia. The deal commits Ukraine and the EU to closer political and economic cooperation, although more substantial parts of the agreement concerning free trade will only be signed after Ukraine has held new presidential elections in May. Van Rompuy, the European Council president, said the agreement would bring Ukraine and its 46 million people closer to the heart of Europe and a “European way of life.”

 —Prashant Tewari, Editor-in-Chief