Germany raps Russia on Crimea

Germany has criticised Russia over a planned Moscow-backed referendum on whether Crimea should join Russia. Germany’s Angela Merkel on Sunday night delivered a rebuke to President Vladimir Putin, telling him that was illegal and violated Ukraine’s constitution. Merkel also regretted the lack of progress on forming an “international contact group” to seek a political solution to the Ukraine crisis and said this should be done urgently, according to a news agency.