BRUSSELS, March 16 (Reuters) - The secession referendum in Ukraine's Crimea is illegal and illegitimate and its outcome will not be recognised, The European Union's top officials said in a joint statement on Sunday.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy also called on Russia to withdraw its armed forces to their pre-crisis numbers and to usual areas of deployment.
EU foreign ministers will decide on possible measures at a meeting in Brussels on Monday. (Reporting by Luke Baker and Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
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