Douglas Alexander MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, responding to the result of the referendum in Crimea, said:
“As EU Foreign Ministers meet today in Brussels, they must reject the illegitimate and illegal referendum that took place in Crimea which went ahead without the approval of the Ukrainian Parliament and is in violation of the Ukrainian constitution.
"The primary task remains the de-escalation of the crisis in Ukraine. As the EU Foreign Affairs Council meets, it is now clear that Russia must face costs and consequences for its continued aggressive stance towards Ukraine. So the UK, alongside our EU allies, should today agree travel bans and asset freezes on Russian officials responsible for the military incursion into Ukraine.
"The international community must speak with one voice in its condemnation of Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Saturday’s vote at the United Nations underlines for Russia the risks of even further isolation within the international community, and robust EU action today will be a crucial next step.”