BRUSSELS. March 17 (Interfax) - The European Union is trying to "send the strongest possible signals" to Russia to "ensure that they understand the seriousness of the situation" brought about by Sunday's "so-called referendum" in Crimea, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said on Monday.
"We're … trying to send the strongest possible signals to Russia in our work today and later this week with heads of state and government, And it's the signal of trying to ensure that they understand the seriousness of the situation, but also a signal that we do genuinely believe that there needs to be a dialogue, there needs to be a way through this that can actually lead to the territorial integrity of Ukraine being assured and good and strong relations withy Russia for Ukraine and for the European Union," Ashton said a meeting in Brussels of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
"I call upon Russia yet again to meet with Ukrainian leaders and to start a dialogue with them and to try and move to de-escalation, as quickly as possible. We've seen no evidence of that," Ashton said.
"Top of our agenda will be the situation in Ukraine and looking at the results of the so-called referendum in Crimea. I don't have to remind any of you that it's illegal under the constitution of Ukraine and under international law," she said in opening Monday's meeting.
"You can't simply sit back and say this situation can be allowed to happen. So first of all we have to think very carefully about what the response ought to be and there should be a response," Ashton said.