Ukraine crisis timeline

March 28
Ukraine recalls troops

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, affirming its commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity and urging peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis. Read more

March 25
Putin signs law

Ukraine's government ordered troops to withdraw from Crimea on Monday, ending days of wavering as Russian troops consolidated control over the peninsula. Read more

March 21
US, EU expand sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed into law legislation on the accession of Crimea after both houses of the parliament unanimously approved it. Read more

March 20
Ukraine gives up CIS chairmanship

Ukraine has decided to relinquish its chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and was pondering a possible withdrawal from the bloc. Read more

March 19
Putin signs treaty

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a treaty with leaders of Crimea to accept the Republic of Crimea Read more

March 17
UN fails resolution

The UN Security Council on Saturday failed to adopt a draft resolution on Ukraine. Read more

March 16
G7 expulses Russia

Russia is threatened to lose its status as a G8 member country amid the Ukrainian crisis as the G7 group is considering to choose London as an alternative meeting place  Read more

March 12
Crimea declares independence

Crimea's parliament has adopted a declaration of independence from Ukraine ahead of a March 16 referendum 

March 6
Referendum called

Lawmakers in Crimea called a March 16 referendum on whether to break away from Ukraine and join Russia instead as Crimea's parliament voted to do so. Read more

Feb 28
Russia takes up Crimea

Ukraine says Russian troops have taken up positions at strategic locations on the Crimean peninsula. Parliament adopts a resolution demanding that Russia halt moves that undermine Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Read more

Feb 26
New PM

Leaders of Ukraine's protest movement propose legislator Arseniy Yatsenyuk as prime minister. In Moscow, Putin orders major military exercises just across the border. Read more

Feb 24
President wanted

Ukraine's interim government draws up a warrant for Yanukovych's arrest. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev derides the new leaders in Kiev as "Kalashnikov-toting people in black masks". Read more

Feb 22
Yanukovych voted removed

Parliament votes to remove Yanukovych and hold new elections. Tymoshenko is freed and addresses tens of thousands on the Maidan. Read more

Feb 21
Tymoshenko freed

Parliament cuts presidential powers and votes to free Yanukovych's rival, Yulia Tymoshenko, from prison. Yanukovych flees Kiev after protesters take control. Read more

Feb 20
Turmoil

Hours after a truce is announced, violence resumes. Most of the total 82 deaths occur on this day. Read more

Feb 18
President power limited

Protesters attack police lines and set fires outside Parliament after it stalls on a constitutional reform that would have limited presidential powers. Read more

Jan 28
PM resigns

In concessions to the opposition, the prime minister resigns and Parliament repeals the anti-protest laws that set off the violence. Read more

Nov 21
Break from EU

President Viktor Yanukovych's government announces that it is abandoning an agreement to strengthen ties with the European Union and is instead seeking closer cooperation with Moscow. Protesters take to the streets.