The European Union may impose sanctions on officials close to the Kremlin today, after Crimea voted to break with Ukraine and join Russia.
As thousands of ethnic Russians celebrated across the Black Sea peninsula last night, EU states and the United States denounced the referendum as a dangerous breach of international law that would lead to economic punishment and diplomatic isolation for Moscow.
US president Barack Obama said the vote “which violates the Ukrainian constitution and occurred under duress of Russian military intervention” would never be recognised by the US and the international community.
He spoke to Russia's president Vladimir Putin by phone yesterday and reiterated that a diplomatic resolution could not be achieved while Russian military forces "continue their incursions into Ukrainian territory". Mr Obama warned that " the large-scale Russian military exercises on Ukraine's borders only exacerbate the tension".
Exit polls showed 93 percent of voters supported transferring Crimea to Russia, and local leader Sergei Aksyonov said he would ask Moscow to grant such a move today. Many ethnic Ukrainians and Tatars, who comprise about 40 per cent of Crimea’s population, opposed the plebiscite.
With startling speed over the past fortnight, Russian troops took control of Crimea, Mr Aksyonov was installed and the referendum was prepared, against a backdrop of soaring east-west tension reminiscent of the Cold War.
The US and EU have said Russia must pay for its actions, and have warned the Kremlin against any further moves against Ukraine, where pro-western politicians now govern after president Viktor Yanukovych fled protests and found refuge in Russia.
Brussels has already drawn up a list of Russian officials who could have assets frozen and travel bans imposed, and EU foreign ministers are set to approve such sanctions today.
Britain's foreign secretary, William Hague, called on EU colleagues last night to "send a strong signal to Russia that this challenge to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine will bring economic and political consequences".
Mr Putin supported the referendum, and a Moscow parliament that does his bidding is preparing legislation to make Crimea part of the Russian Federation. He insisted Moscow had the right to use its military to protect speakers of Russian in Ukraine, whom he said were threatened by “fascists” linked to the new government.
Such assertion have fuelled fears that Moscow may push troops deeper into a country that is almost bankrupt and in turmoil after months of political upheaval.
Ukraine has vowed to defend its territory against further Russian encroachment. Prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk yesterday condemned events in Crimea, calling the referendum a "circus performance".
The concerns of Kiev, Brussels and Washington did nothing to dampen celebrations across much of Crimea last night, however. In the regional capital, Simferopol, thousands of people gathered on Lenin Square, many wrapped in Russian flags, and chanted “Russia, Russia!” and Mr Putin’s name.
“We are going back home to Russia,” said Galina, a teacher. Like much of Crimea’s 60 per cent ethnic Russian majority, she regretted its 1954 transfer from Russia to Ukraine, within the Soviet Union.
