Ukraine's Crimea peninsula voted on Tuesday for full independence from Ukraine ahead of a referendum to join Russia while France threatened sanctions against Moscow as early as this week.
Judicial authorities in Geneva said Friday they have launched a criminal investigation into alleged money laundering by ousted Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych and his son.
Ukrainian lawmakers failed to agree on curbing the president's powers at a stormy debate on Tuesday as the EU's foreign policy chief flew in to bolster international pressure to end the two-month crisis.
Ukraine's opposition on Wednesday defiantly refused to back an amnesty bill that would free activists and ease the country's worst crisis since independence, as Germany urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to use his sway to push for dialogue.
Crunch talks between the opposition and President Viktor Yanukovych failed Thursday to end Ukraine's crisis but an uneasy truce held after five days of deadly clashes between protesters and security forces.
