<blockquote>'We reiterate the strong condemnation of the unprovoked violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and call on Russia to withdraw its armed forces to their pre-crisis numbers and the areas of their permanent stationing, in accordance with relevant agreements.'
- Council of the European Union,
Joint statement on Crimea, March 16, 2014</blockquote>
Context<blockquote>
Ukraine - '..The economy needs a total structural overhaul .. the work Central Europe and the Baltic states did in the 1990s.''Only Europe, in concert with the United States, can put a check on the Putin doctrine..'Ukraine - '..Russian banks could soon be .. targeted under sanctions..'</blockquote>