CRIMEA ISSUE Region of Crimea in the Ukraine

CRIMEA ISSUE • Region of Crimea in the Ukraine voted on succession from the country. • Over 93% of the voters voted for succession from the Ukraine. (To be fair, there were thousands of armed Russian soldiers occupying the peninsula at the time – so who knows the legitimacy? ) Russia has now annexed Crimea- a permanent occupation/acquisition of a territory.

UNITED STATES OFFICIAL STANCE: • The U. S. and its allies in Europe are expected to announce sanctions against Russia, including visa bans and potential asset freezes. ($) • President Obama told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Crimea's vote "would never be recognized" by the United States, as he and other top U. S. officials warned Moscow against making further military moves toward southern and eastern Ukraine. • During the call Obama urged Putin to: • pursue a diplomatic de-escalation of the crisis, • support the Ukraine government's plans for political reform • return its troops in Crimea to their bases. • halt advances into Ukrainian territory and military build-ups along Ukraine's borders.

AWARD FOR WORKING TOGETHER DESPITE POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATIONS • any Russian moves on east and south Ukraine would be a grave escalation requiring additional responses. Ukraine needs U. S. military aid after Crimean vote.