Ukrainians 'Will Fight War Against Russia'

One of Ukraine's top politicians has told Sky News his country is ready to fight if Russian soldiers cross the border from Crimea into mainland Ukraine.

Serhiy Taruta, governor of the eastern city of Donetsk, warned: "We're going to have a war. Our people will take up arms and they will protect our country."

The tense stand-off came as Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a draft bill for Crimea's annexation and defended his government's actions in a speech to both houses of parliament in Moscow.

His speech coincided with a concert and mass rally, celebrating ties between Russia and Crimea, in the city's Red Square.

Under the decree, which could be finalised as early as Friday, Crimea will ditch Ukraine's currency, the Hryvnia, and adopt the Russia Rouble within a month.

It is also due to move time zones - adopting Moscow time, which is two hours ahead of Kiev - on March 30.

The peninsula is also offering Crimean soldiers the chance to join the Russian army.

Ukraine has already called up 20,000 reserve troops and a further 20,000 from its newly-formed National Guard to protect the mainland against any Russian movement across its eastern border.

Huge tank traps have been placed at checkpoints and a 60-mile trench has been dug along the border as defensive preparations gather pace.

Sky News Chief Correspondent Stuart Ramsay, who is near the Russia-Ukraine border, said: "The land here is extremely open.

"A short distance away, thousands of Russian troops have been carrying out manoeuvres for the past few days.

"If they decide to come into Ukraine, this is the way they'll come - and there's nothing anyone can do to stop them."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said his country's membership of Nato is "not on the agenda".

Under Nato agreements, an attack on one member is an attack on all members - meaning the West would have to defend Ukraine if it joined Nato.

Mr Yatsenyuk also said Ukraine forces would disarm all "illegal groups regardless of their aims".

The EU and US have imposed travel bans and asset freezes on senior Moscow officials, and British Prime Minister David Cameron said "there will be further consequences" if Russia takes further action to destabilise Ukraine.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has cancelled a trip to Moscow on Tuesday to meet his Russian counterpart because of the "evolving situation".

During a referendum on Sunday, almost 97% of voters in Crimea said they wanted to break away from Ukraine and join Russia.

The peninsula has been declared an independent state by its parliament, despite widespread condemnation of what many regard as an illegal poll.

Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev hailed Crimea's vote as a "happy event" and showed "people really wanted to return to Russia".

In his comments, published in online newspaper Slon.ru, he said the Crimean referendum has set an example for Russian-speaking people in eastern Ukraine, who should also decide their fate.

The intervention of Russian forces in Crimea follows last month's ousting of Ukrainian President and Kremlin ally Viktor Yanukovych.

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