Russia annexes Crimea

A Ukrainian soldier walks past Russian soldiers marching to their camp outside a military base in Perevalne, Crimea, 2014.

Two almost simultaneous signatures Friday on opposite sides of Europe deepened the divide between East and West, as Russia formally annexed Crimea and the European Union pulled Ukraine closer into its orbit.

Russia officially annexes Crimea away from Ukraine with signature from Vladimir Putin

Crimea

A Russian flag waves over workers installing a new sign on a local parliament building reading "State council of Crimean Republic," in Simferopol, Crimea, March 19, 2014.

Crimea

A Ukrainian airman carries a TV set as he leaves the Belbek air base, outside Sevastopol, Crimea, March 21, 2014. The base commander Col. Yuliy Mamchur said he was asked by the Russian military to turn over the base but is unwilling to do so until he receives orders from the Ukrainian defense ministry.

Perevalnoe

Russian military personnel move towards a Ukrainian military base on in Perevalne, Ukraine, March 19, 2014. Russia's Constitutional Court ruled unanimously on March 19 that Russia's President Vladimir Putin acted legally by signing a treaty to make Crimea part of Russia.

Crimea

A Ukrainian airman carries belongings as he leaves the Belbek air base, outside Sevastopol, Crimea, March 21, 2014.

Perevalnoe

Russian military personnel move towards a Ukrainian military base in Perevalne, Ukraine, March 19, 2014.

Crimea

Residents gather in a passport center to submit papers to apply for Russian passports in Simferopol, Crimea, March 21, 2014.

Perevalnoe

Russian military personnel take positions on a nearby hillside as they move towards a Ukrainian military base in Perevalne, March 19, 2014.

Crimea

A man in an unmarked uniform with a ribbon symbolizing the Soviet victory in WWII, holds a gun during seizure of the Ukrainian ship Khmelnitsky in Sevastopol, Crimea, March 20, 2014. Pro-Russian crowds seized two Ukrainian warships Thursday.

Perevalnoe

Russian military personnel surround a Ukrainian military base in Perevalne, March 19, 2014.

Perevalnoe

A child drags a toy truck past pro-Russian soldiers standing outside an Ukrainian military base in Perevalne, Crimea, March 20, 2014. With thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and sailors trapped on military bases, surrounded by heavily armed Russian forces and pro-Russia militia, the Kiev government said it was drawing up plans to evacuate its outnumbered troops from Crimea back to the mainland and would seek U.N. support to turn the peninsula into a demilitarized zone.

Perevalnoe

A Russian soldier (right) shakes hands with a Ukrainian military man outside a Ukrainian military base in Perevalne, Ukraine, March 19, 2014.

Crimea

Men in unmarked uniforms seized the Ukrainian ship Khmelnitsky in Sevastopol, Crimea, March 20, 2014.

Crimea

Officers of the Ukrainian navy ship Lutsk raise a Russian navy flag aboard the Lutsk, which has been seized by Russia, in Sevastopol, March 20, 2014.

Crimea

Ukrainian airmen sit at the Belbek air base, outside Sevastopol, Crimea, March 21, 2014.

Crimea

A child pauses by the emblem of a Ukrainian military base as a pro-Russian soldier walks behind the main gate in Perevalne, Crimea, March 20, 2014.

Crimea

A Ukrainian air force officer walks carrying his belongings at the Belbek airbase, outside Sevastopol, Crimea, March 20, 2014.

Crimea

A pro-Russian soldier flashes a victory sign while marching near a Ukrainian army base in Perevalne, Crimea, March 19, 2014.

Crimea

A man in unmarked uniform and wearing a mask holds a gun as he climbs aboard the Ukrainian ship Khmelnitsky in Sevastopol, Crimea, March 20, 2014.