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• BRUSSELS (AP) -- The European Union is taking steps to increase sanctions against Russia over what many believe is a planned annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region, as Moscow has changed from a wary partner to a diplomatic adversary in the space of a few months.
• Sunday's referendum in Crimea on secession has been called illegal by the EU and the U.S., and EU foreign ministers will decide on Monday whether to impose asset freeze and visa sanctions and, if so, who to target.
• EU diplomats were working feverishly over the weekend to set up a list of Russian and Moscow-leaning officials from Ukraine who have been involved in pushing for the southern peninsula's secession and possible annexation. Diplomats said member states arrived at weekend talks with different suggestions, so a common list could be drawn up for Monday's meeting of the 28 foreign ministers to make a final decision.
• "There must be a firm and united response" at the meeting, said British Foreign Secretary William Hague. "The time has come for tougher restrictive measures to be adopted."
• They would likely include military officials who ordered Ukrainian troops to leave their barracks in Crimea and others who were responsible for breakaway actions there. On the other hand, diplomats said they would shy away from economic operators at the moment.
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• PEREVALNYE, Ukraine (AP) -- In the eastern reaches of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, witnesses report advanced Russian surface-to-air missiles being offloaded and readied for movement. At a base near the naval port of Sevastopol, an air force commander takes to YouTube to appeal for clear orders of engagement with the Russian forces who have occupied much of his base. In a naval base near regional capital Simferopol, a commander reports feeling like a hostage, and fearing what will come in the next few days.
• On the eve of Sunday's referendum on whether the Black Sea peninsula should

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