March 17, 2014

The Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, meeting in Simferopol, the Crimean capital, declared the region independent from Ukraine and formally requested that it be annexed by the Russian Federation. The declaration follows yesterday’s referendum in which Crimean officials claim 97 percent of participants voted for sucession.

In response to the Crimean declaration, the United States and the European Union (EU) imposed sanctions on Russia. They include visa bans and the freezing of assets of Russian officials and Crimean separatist leaders whom they believe are responsible for wresting Crimea from Ukrainian control. The EU, Ukraine, and the United States refuse to recognize the validity of the referendum, claiming it is a breach of international law.

Crimea, a part of Ukraine since 1954, is a peninsula that juts into the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The larger map shows the major cities of Crimea. The smaller map at bottom right shows the location of Crimea in relation to the rest of Europe and Asia. (World Book maps)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has embraced the result of the referendum but has not formally declared his intent to annex the strategic territory. In a tense telephone conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama, Putin cited  the independence of Kosovo–which Russia has never formally recognized–as precedent for Crimea’s secession.

Speaking at a press conference at the White House, President Obama stated that the United States is “ready to impose further sanctions” depending on whether Russia escalates or de-escalates the situation in Ukraine. The president warned that if the government of President Putin continues to intervene in Ukraine, it will “achieve nothing except to further isolate Russia and diminish its place in the world.” In Kiev, the Ukrainian parliament voted to partially mobilize 40,000 reservists. Russia is believed to have some 20,000 troops in Crimea. The Crimean city of Sevastopol is also the home port of Russia’s important Black Sea fleet.

For additional information on the Ukrainian revolution, search Ukraine articles under Archived Stories.

Additional World Book articles:

• Russia in the Post-Soviet World (a special report)
• Kosovo (2008) (a Back in Time article)
• Kosovo (2009) (a Back in Time article)
• Ukraine (1994) (a Back in Time article)