19.33 UKRAINE’S PRIME MINISTER SAYS MILITARY INTERVENTION WOULD LEAD TO WAR AND END TO ANY RELATIONS WITH MOSCOW. UKRAINE’S PRIME MINISTER SAYS RUSSIAN FORCES MUST RETURN TO BASE

19.23 AFP – Ukraine’s army put on alert: interim president

19.21 UKRAINE’S ACTING PRESIDENT SAYS NO BASIS FOR RUSSIA’S ACT OF AGGRESSION AGAINST UKRAINE

19.00 The reaction to Putin’s approval for military action is coming thick and fast now.

• From the EU – Catherine Ashton, foreign policy chief, says the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine must be respected.

• From Nato – Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Russia must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, including with regard to troop movements.

• From UN – Ban ki-Moon says he is “gravely concerned” and will talk to Putin shortly

• From the Czech republic – Milos Zeman, the president, recalled 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia and warned against creating “a deep ditch which cannot be filled for a generation.”

• From the UK – David Cameron told Moscow there is “no excuse” for military intervention in Ukraine as he reiterated warnings that the “world is watching”.

• From France – Francois Hollande urges the avoidance of “a highly dangerous escalation.”

• From Germany – Angela Merkel said what is happening in Crimea was cause for concern.

18.59 ACTING UKRAINIAN PRESISDENT SAYS RUSSIA WANTS FULL DESTABILISATION OF SITUATION IN UKRAINE – PARLIAMENTARY WEBSITE

18.58 RUSSIAN PARLAIMENTARY SPEAKER TELLS UKRAINE’S LEADER MOSCOW COULD RESPOND MILITARILY IF UKRAINE USES FORCE AGAINST PEACEFUL CITIZENS IN EAST AND CRIMEA – URKAINE PARLIAMENT WEBSITE