Tensions surrounding the current stability of Ukraine continue to rise, both within the nation itself and around the world. Fears of a potential annexation have been high, even before the vote by the Crimean people, due to Russia’s military occupation of the region. The Ukrainian government in Kiev had voted to dissolve the Crimean parliament, yet that decision was ignored in Crimea and its government continued with it plans towards annexation.
The People Have Spoken
On Sunday, the Ukrainian province of Crimea held a vote on a referendum which would support secession from the formerly soviet nation, in favor of returning to Russia. The vote seems to have yielded a clear will of the Crimean people, with supporters of secession at around 93% of voters. Now, the Crimean government is expected to approach Russia today to seek annexation.
Although a potentially fruitless effort by the province with an unrecognized government, Russia’s actions may suggest that annexation is a very real possibility. Russia recently began talks on a bill which would allow them to annex parts of countries with faltering governments and a people with a desire to secede. But the west is also closely monitoring the situation as well, and considering its potential actions.
Western Opposition
Days ago, the United States proposed a resolution stating that the referendum supporting secession be declared illegal to the United Nations Security Council; however, Russia vetoed the resolution unsurprisingly. Now many U.S. officials are calling for stronger action by their government to prevent such a secession and restore some stability to the region.
President Obama has spoke with Russian President Putin, reminding him again that the U.S. government would impose economic sanctions, as well as the fact that the United States and other nations would not support and recognize Crimea’s referendum for annexation. Yet now other lawmakers, like Senator John McCain, are imploring the U.S. to begin to consider military options and strategies, the former presidential candidate suggested giving military support to Ukraine as well as constructing a European missile shield.
A Precarious Path Forward
The next steps by the international community as well as the Ukrainian government itself will be crucial in determining the precarious situation’s outcome. Support for Russia extends outside of Crimea and well into eastern Ukraine where there have been continued pro-Russia rallies. Yet an attempt to seize any part of Ukraine on Russia’s behalf would be met with staunch opposition by the west. While at the moment western nations have focused on economic sanctions and diplomacy, a military attack by Russia might not be met with the same restraint.