Russia agrees to turn over some weapons to Ukraine
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Russian soldiers stand near a tank at a former Ukrainian military base in Perevalne, outside Simferopol, Crimea, March 27, 2014. Russia last week completed the annexation of Crimea following a referendum in which an overwhelming number of residents voted to break off from Ukraine and join Russia. The vote, rejected by Ukraine and the West, was hastily called after Russian forces had overtaken the peninsula. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Russian soldiers stand near a tank at a former Ukrainian military base in Perevalne, outside Simferopol, Crimea, March 27, 2014. Russia last week completed the annexation of Crimea following a referendum in which an overwhelming number of residents voted to break off from Ukraine and join Russia. The vote, rejected by Ukraine and the West, was hastily called after Russian forces had overtaken the peninsula. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
MOSCOW >> Russia’s president says Ukraine could regain some arms and equipment of military units in Crimea that did not switch their loyalty to Russia.
Russian forces took control of Ukrainian military installations in Crimea this month after Russia formally annexed the Black Sea peninsula. Some Ukrainian servicemen reportedly joined Russian forces, while others withdrew.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Friday told President Vladimir Putin that the Ukrainian withdrawal from Crimea is complete, Russian news agencies reported.
Putin also approved Shoigu’s proposal to turn over arms and equipment of the units still loyal to Ukraine, the reports said. No specifics were given on quantities, types of hardware, or timing.
