G-7 Warns Putin

The group of economic powers known as the G-7 warned the Russian Federation that its annexation of Crimea would be a violation of international law and would prompt collective and individual nation action against Russia.  The warning letter was signed by the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Russia has an estimated 30,000 troops in Crimea -- many of whom are the Russian special forces known as Spetznaz not wearing any identifying insignia -- and has defended its intrusion on the basis of "protecting" ethnic Russians in Crimea (in truth, those ethnic Russians comprise nearly 60% of the Crimean population, and have been sporadically attacking minority Tatars and Ukrainians).

UPDATE:  The 28-nation European Union is preparing preliminary sanctions against Russia due to the Crimean situation, including travel bans and freezing assets of those most responsible for the crisis.  The member nations are set to vote on the sanctions next Monday.