Ukraine crisis: Crimea ready to adopt Russian rouble

Uniformed men, believed to be Russian servicemen, walk in formation near a Ukrainian military base in the village of Perevalnoye outside Simferopol on March 6, 2014. The Ukrainian region of Crimea could adopt the Russian rouble as its currency a
Uniformed men, believed to be Russian servicemen, walk in formation near a Ukrainian military base in the village of Perevalnoye outside Simferopol on March 6, 2014. The Ukrainian region of Crimea could adopt the Russian rouble as its currency and "nationalise" state property as part of plans to join the Russian Federation, a regional official was quoted as saying on Thursday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

KIEV (REUTERS) - The Ukrainian region of Crimea could adopt the Russian rouble as its currency and "nationalise" state property as part of plans to join the Russian Federation, a regional official was quoted as saying on Thursday.

Interfax news agency cited Rustam Temurgaliyev, Crimea's vice-premier, as saying: "All Ukrainian state enterprises will be nationalised and become the property of the Crimean autonomy." Hoping Moscow would let Crimea become part of Russia, he said: "We are ready to introduce the rouble zone."

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