Putin, Crimea leaders sign treaty on Crimea joining Russia

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a treaty with the leaders of Crimea on the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula becoming part of Russia, state television showed.

Putin signed the treaty with Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov and other Crimean leaders at a ceremony at the Kremlin attended by both houses of parliament.

Lawmakers, who still have to ratify the treaty, broke into applause and cheers after the signing.