Crimea Latest: Russia commences the issuing national passports for Crimeans – Migration Service

The first passports have been handed out to the new Russian citizens in Crimea on Wednesday, the head of the Federal Migration Service said.

The treaty of Crimea's accession to Russia "was signed yesterday… And all, who appealed to the Federal Migration Service in the Crimea, will receive their passports. This work has started. Some of the passports were issued today,” said Konstantin Romodanovskiy, the head of the Federal Migration Service, as cited by Itar-Tass news agency.

Meanwhile, funds from the Russian budget will be used to help Crimea solve and Sevastopol solve its economic problems, country’s finance minister, Anton Siluanov, announced.

"The total deficit on the budget of Sevastopol and Crimea in 2014 is 55 billion roubles (around $1.5 billion),” Siluanov is cited by RIA-Novosti news agency.

The minister specially stressed that the National Welfare Fund won’t be affected as the money for the Crimea will be taken from the unallocated reserve of the Russian budget.

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Russia is not a superpower. Its population is shrinking, and so is its military, political, and economic might. Yes, Russians have their oil money to organise Olympics or buy fancy flats in London, but Russia itself is a far cry from the big nasty "bear" that was invading Afghanistan, when I emigrated from this evil colossus in search of a political freedom so lacking at home. Yet, this cherished western freedom is being threatened by a stifling hypocrisy.

NATO-Russia council to hold extraordinary meeting in Brussels Wednesday to discuss Ukraine invations

Russia accepts NATO proposal which will enable NATO-Russia council to hold extraordinary meeting in Brussels Wednesday to discuss Ukraine.

NATO allies are holding emergency talks in Brussels on the crisis in Ukraine, the second time in three days, following a request from Poland.

In calling the meeting, Poland, a neighbour of Ukraine, invoked a NATO rule allowing any ally to consult with the others if it feels its security, territorial integrity or independence are under threat, the so-called Article 4.