Following are the reactions Tuesday from world powers, Ukraine and the Baltics to Russian President Vladimir Putin's signing of a treaty making Crimea part of Russia.

- UNITED STATES

"We condemn Russia's moves to formally annex" Crimea. With sanctions already designated against Russian officials, "there are more to come." -- White House spokesman Jay Carney 

"The Crimean 'referendum,' which violates the Ukrainian constitution and occurred under duress of Russian military intervention, (will) never be recognised by the United States and the international community." -- US President Barack Obama, who then called on members of the G7  -- minus G8 member Russia -- to join him in The Hague to discuss the crisis next week.

Russian moves into eastern Ukraine "would be as egregious as any step that I can think of that would be taken by a country in today's world, particularly by a country like Russia where so much is at stake." -- US Secretary of State John Kerry

"Russia has offered a variety of arguments to justify what is nothing more than a land grab." -- US Vice President Joe Biden

- GERMANY

"The one-sided declaration of Crimea's independence and the absorption into the Russian Federation that started today are unacceptable blows against the territorial integrity of Ukraine." -- Spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel referring to what she and Obama had agreed on in a phone call.

"The so-called referendum breached international law, the declaration of independence which the Russian president accepted yesterday was against international law, and the absorption into the Russian Federation is, in our firm opinion, also against international law." -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel.


- EUROPEAN UNION

"The European Union does neither recognize the illegal and illegitimate referendum in Crimea nor its outcome. The European Union does not and will not recognise the annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol to the Russian Federation."

-- EU president Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso in a joint statement

- UNITED NATIONS

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has been following "with mounting concern first the holding of the referendum and now actions taken in relation to the annexation of Crimea" and "strongly urges resumption of a constructive dialogue between all concerned parties in order to resolve this crisis." -- Ban's spokesman, Stephane Dujarric

- NATO

"Crimea's annexation is illegal and illegitimate and NATO allies will not recognise it." -- NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen

He added that he was "deeply concerned" by reports of the death of a Ukrainian soldier. "It is urgent that all sides show restraint and take all possible steps to avoid further escalation."   

- UKRAINE

"Russia is playing a dirty game to annex Crimea. World War II began with the annexation by Nazi Germany of other countries' territories. Today, Putin is following the example of 20th century fascists." -- Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov.

Putin's message to the West was "I could care less about you." -- Former jailed opposition leader and Ukrainian premier Yulia Tymoshenko, adding:

"Redrawing the maps of the world through wars and bloodshed is his (Putin's) 'Mein Kampf'", referring to Adolf Hitler's opus.

- BRITAIN

"It was regrettable to hear President Putin today choosing the route of isolation" -- British Foreign Secretary William Hague, announcing that Britain will suspend all bilateral military cooperation with Russia.

- FRANCE

"France does not recognise the results of the referendum held in Crimea on March 16, or the annexation of this region of Ukraine to Russia." -- French President Francois Hollande, urging a "strong and coordinated European response to the new step that has just been taken."

- BALTICS

"Russia's actions in Ukraine and demonstration of military power in (the Russian exclave of) Kaliningrad pose threats to the security of the Baltic region and Poland. Immediate measures and concerted efforts are needed to strengthen regional security." -- Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskiate after talks with Poland's President Bronislaw Komorowski.(AFP)