Lithuania's Dalia Grybauskaite warns of prelude to 'new Cold War'

President Vladimir Putin has signed a law formalising Russia's takeover of Crimea from Ukraine, despite fresh sanctions from the EU and the US.

The European Union's latest measures target 12 people involved in Russia's annexation of the peninsula.

Earlier, Ukraine and the EU signed an accord forging closer political ties.

Dalia Grybauskaite, President of Lithuania, said Russia's actions amounted to a prelude to a ''new Cold War''.

She said it was important for the EU to make a ''strong response'' in relation to Russian President Vladimir Putin.