We're leaving. No, you're not. That's where the crisis in Ukraine stood Thursday after lawmakers in Crimea voted in favor of leaving the country for Russia and putting it to a regional vote in 10 days. This act drew widespread condemnation, with Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk calling such a referendum "an illegitimate decision." "Crimea was, is and will be an integral part of Ukraine," he said. It was a sentiment echoed by several world leaders, who called the scheduled vote and possible pullout violations of Ukrainian and international law. "Any discussion about the future of Ukraine must include the legitimate government of Ukraine," said U.S. President Barack Obama. "In 2014, we are well beyond the days when borders can be redrawn over the heads of democratic leaders."
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Putin to Obama: Russia "cannot ignore the calls for help"
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Crimean lawmakers set a date for a referendum on staying in Ukraine or joining
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Ukraine's interim prime minister, U.S. President Obama call such a vote unlawful
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West threatens Russia with punitive actions over Ukraine
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has insisted he has the right to use military force in Ukraine if necessary to protect ethnic Russians under threat in @placeholder.
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Ukrainian officials say no such threat exists and say @placeholder is using it as a pretext to control the region.
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Moscow says the heavily armed troops, who are in uniforms without insignia and who have reportedly encircled @placeholder bases, are local "self-defense" forces.
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Citizens will be allowed to vote on March 16 on whether they want an autonomous republic of @placeholder within Russia; or within Ukraine.
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Not everyone in this region wants to become part of @placeholder.
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Protesters, including one topless woman who was dragged away screaming, railed against the @placeholder parliament vote and Putin.
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Yatsenyuk said that if @placeholder is broken up, the world will have trouble ever getting another country to give up its nuclear weapons program.
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What happens now to @placeholder "will have an impact on nuclear nonproliferation programs," Yatsenyuk said.