Kiev, Ukraine:
Key events in two weeks that saw dozens killed in Ukraine's deadliest post-independence violence, the President forced to flee and pro-Russian forces take over Crimea, sparking what has been described as the worst crisis since the end of the Cold War:
February 18: Violence erupts as 20,000 pro-European protesters rally in Kiev to demand President Viktor Yanukovych be stripped of key powers after he rejected an EU trade deal in favour of closer ties with Russia.
February 20: Police fire on protestors. An official toll lists 82 people killed in three days, including around 15 police.
February 22: Parliament impeaches Yanukovych, and he flees Kiev. Presidential elections are planned for May 25.
Opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko is released from prison.
February 23: Parliament elects Tymoshenko ally Oleksandr Turchynov as interim president.
February 26: Russia rejects Ukraine's new leadership, puts armed forces on high alert.
Pro-Russian demonstrators brawl with supporters of interim authorities in Simferopol, capital of the Russian-speaking peninsula of Crimea.
February 27: Pro-Russian gunmen seize parliament and government buildings in Simferopol, raising the Russian flag.
February 28: Ukrainian interior minister denounces an "armed invasion" by Russian forces.
March 1: Russian parliament authorises President Vladimir Putin to send troops into Ukraine. Ukrainian army adopts a state of alert.
A March 30 referendum is planned in Crimea to see if residents want more autonomy.
US President Barack Obama warns Putin of reprisals. Putin says Russia can "protect its interests and Russian-speaking populations".
March 2: Ukraine's interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk says Russia has declared war.
March 3: Ukraine accuses Russia of sending more troops to Crimea, where military bases are surrounded.
March 4: Putin denies Russia has sent troops, says force will only be used as a last resort. Obama claims Putin is not "fooling anybody".
March 5: Russian forces take partial control of two Ukrainian missile sites.
Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hold direct talks on Ukraine in Paris.
The EU unveils an aid package worth at least 11 billion euros.
UN envoy Robert Serry cuts short his mission to Crimea after threats by unidentified gunmen, the UN says.
NATO says it is stepping up its cooperation with Ukraine but reviewing "an entire range" of cooperation with Russia.
March 6: Pro-Moscow authorities in Crimea ask Putin to examine a request to join the Russian Federation, Crimean referendum planned for March 16.
Ukrainian police regain control of regional government offices in Donetsk eastern Ukraine, a day after they were taken over by pro-Russian militants.
The US will send six more fighter jets to step up NATO's air patrols over the Baltic states, mission host Lithuania says.
EU holds summit on crisis, freezes assets of Yanukovych, and 17 others.