British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Monday said the foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) have started discussing longer term measures over the Ukraine crisis, including "the need to reduce EU dependence on Russian energy over many years to come."

Hague made the remarks via his personal twitter account on Monday afternoon, while the EU foreign ministers meeting on Ukraine was being convened in Brussels.

"I'm pleased EU have agreed on asset freezes and travel bans on individuals not just in Crimea but Russia as well," he tweeted.

He added that EU sanctions agreement is important statement of EU "unity and resolve" on Ukraine, coinciding with measures taken by the United States.

On Sunday, people in Crimea voted overwhelmingly for the mostly Russian-speaking peninsula's reunification with Russia. Following the vote, the Crimean parliament declared independence from Ukraine and applied for integration into Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted on Sunday in a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the Crimea referendum breach no international law and Moscow will respect the choice of local residents.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a local newspaper Sunday it would not adjust foreign policies over the recent tough statements by some Group of Eight (G8) countries, reiterating its firm position on Ukraine.

Noting that Russia had "regrets" about Western statements, Peskov said his country is still working with those states "in an orderly manner." Endi

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