Eurasia Press & News
A move by the Crimean authorities to rejoin Russia and go ahead with a referendum on the issue next week was dismissed as illegitimate by the United States on Thursday as the crisis in Ukraine continued.
US President Barack Obama said the referendum scheduled for March 16 in Crimea would violate the Ukrainian constitution and international law.
“Any discussion about the future of Ukraine must include the legitimate government of Ukraine,” Mr. Obama said. “In 2014, we are well beyond the days when borders can be redrawn over the heads of democratic leaders.”
Mr. Obama later spoke with Mr. Putin by telephone for one hour, suggesting direct talks between the governments of Ukraine and Russia as a way to diplomatically resolve the situation, the White House said.
The talks would be facilitated by the international community, a White House statement said.
