Changes

At the same time, most Ukrainians favored stronger ties with Europe and sought to join the [[European Union]] and perhaps even [[NATO]].  Ukrainian President [[Viktor Yanukovych]] was pressured by Russia to delay signing a treaty that would lead to Ukraine joining the EU, which lead to widespread riots that overturned his government.  On February 22, 2014, Yanukovych fled Kiev for Russia.<ref name="WP Yanukovych missing">{{cite news|last=Booth|first=William|title=Ukraine’s Yanukovych missing as protesters take control of presidential residence in Kiev|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ukraines-president-open-to-early-vote-polish-leader-says-scores-reported-killed-in-clashes/2014/02/21/05d3de46-9a82-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html|accessdate=23 March 2014|newspaper=Washington Post|date=22 February 2014}}</ref> He was then impeached, leaving the Ukrainian government in anti-Russian hands.  Although Russia was constrained from responding while hosting the [[2014 Winter Olympics]], a week after the Olympics ended, Russia moved against the anti-Russian government in Kiev by taking actions in Crimea and in various provinces on along the Eastern border of Ukraine.

At the same time, most Ukrainians favored stronger ties with Europe and sought to join the [[European Union]] and perhaps even [[NATO]].  Ukrainian President [[Viktor Yanukovych]] was pressured by Russia to delay signing a treaty that would lead to Ukraine joining the EU, which lead to widespread riots that overturned his government.  On February 22, 2014, Yanukovych fled Kiev for Russia.<ref name="WP Yanukovych missing">{{cite news|last=Booth|first=William|title=Ukraine’s Yanukovych missing as protesters take control of presidential residence in Kiev|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ukraines-president-open-to-early-vote-polish-leader-says-scores-reported-killed-in-clashes/2014/02/21/05d3de46-9a82-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html|accessdate=23 March 2014|newspaper=Washington Post|date=22 February 2014}}</ref> He was then impeached, leaving the Ukrainian government in anti-Russian hands.  Although Russia was constrained from responding while hosting the [[2014 Winter Olympics]], a week after the Olympics ended, Russia moved against the anti-Russian government in Kiev by taking actions in Crimea and in various provinces on along the Eastern border of Ukraine.

In February 2014, Russian soldiers landed in Crimea.  Because some of the people currently living in Crimea are ethinic Russians, there is a dispute whether Crimea belongs to [[Ukraine]] or to [[Russia]].<ref>http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-warns-russia-over-military-moves-crimea</ref> On March 11, 2014, Crimea declared its indepence from Ukraine.<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2578160/Ukraines-fugitive-president-blasts-bandit-regime-says-country-heading-civil-war.html</ref> On March 16, 2014, Russia sponsored a referendum in Crimea about joining Russia. The United States and the  [[European Union]] called the referendum illegal because it gave voters only two choices: join Russia now or later, experts already declared that most Crimeans will vote for the connection to Russia.<ref>http://www.voanews.com/content/eu-crimea-referendum-illegal/1865590.html</ref><ref>http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/international/europe/2014/03/experts_russia_will_take_crimea</ref> As a result of it 95.5% of voters supported joining Russia.<ref>http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26599776</ref> Since March 18, 2014, Russia claims Crimea as a part of its territory.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/03/18/russia-moves-to-annex-crimea-laughs-at-us-sanctions/</ref> Only [[Afghanistan]], [[Cuba]], [[Nicaragua]], [[North Korea]], [[Russia]], [[Syria]] and [[Venezuela]] recognize Crimea as a part of Russia.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/24/world/asia/breaking-with-the-west-afghan-leader-supports-russias-annexation-of-crimea.html?ref=asia&_r=1</ref> On March 27, the U.N. General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution (100 in favor, 11 against and 58 abstentions) declaring Crimea's referendum invalid.<ref name="CHARBONNEAU AND DONATH">{{cite news|lcoauthors=Charbonneau M and Donath L|title=U.N. General Assembly declares Crimea secession vote invalid|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/27/us-ukraine-crisis-un-idUSBREA2Q1GA20140327|newspaper=Reuters|date=Mar 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Felton and Gumuchian">{{cite news|coauthors=Marie-Louise Felton and Alex Gumuchian|title=U.N. General Assembly resolution calls Crimean referendum invalid|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/27/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/|newspaper=CNN|date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="un.org">{{cite news|title=Backing Ukraine’s territorial integrity, UN Assembly declares Crimea referendum invalid|url=http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47443&Cr=ukraine&Cr1=|newspaper=UN News Center|date=27 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="foxnews.com">{{cite news|title=UN General Assembly approves referendum calling Russia annexation of Crimea illegal|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/03/27/un-general-assembly-votes-yes-on-ukraine-unity/|newspaper=Associated Press|date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ukraine: UN condemns Crimea vote as IMF and US back loans|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26776416|newspaper=27 March 2014|date=BBC}}</ref> In response, the United States and Europe have imposed sanctions against Russian trade.

In February 2014, Russian soldiers landed in Crimea.  Because some of the people currently living in Crimea are ethinic Russians, there is a dispute whether Crimea belongs to [[Ukraine]] or to [[Russia]].<ref>http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-warns-russia-over-military-moves-crimea</ref> On March 11, 2014, Crimea declared its indepence from Ukraine.<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2578160/Ukraines-fugitive-president-blasts-bandit-regime-says-country-heading-civil-war.html</ref> On March 16, 2014, Russia sponsored a referendum in Crimea about joining Russia. The United States and the  [[European Union]] called the referendum illegal because it gave voters only two choices: join Russia now or later, experts already declared that most Crimeans will vote for the connection to Russia.<ref>http://www.voanews.com/content/eu-crimea-referendum-illegal/1865590.html</ref><ref>http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/international/europe/2014/03/experts_russia_will_take_crimea</ref> As a result of it 95.5% of voters supported joining Russia.<ref>http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26599776</ref> Since March 18, 2014, Russia claims Crimea as a part of its territory.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/03/18/russia-moves-to-annex-crimea-laughs-at-us-sanctions/</ref> Only [[Afghanistan]], [[Cuba]], [[Nicaragua]], [[North Korea]], [[Russia]], [[Syria]] and [[Venezuela]] recognize Crimea as a part of Russia.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/24/world/asia/breaking-with-the-west-afghan-leader-supports-russias-annexation-of-crimea.html?ref=asia&_r=1</ref> On March 27, the U.N. General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution (100 in favor, 11 against and 58 abstentions) declaring Crimea's referendum invalid.<ref name="CHARBONNEAU AND DONATH">{{cite news|lcoauthors=Charbonneau M and Donath L|title=U.N. General Assembly declares Crimea secession vote invalid|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/27/us-ukraine-crisis-un-idUSBREA2Q1GA20140327|newspaper=Reuters|date=Mar 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Felton and Gumuchian">{{cite news|coauthors=Marie-Louise Felton and Alex Gumuchian|title=U.N. General Assembly resolution calls Crimean referendum invalid|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/27/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/|newspaper=CNN|date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="un.org">{{cite news|title=Backing Ukraine’s territorial integrity, UN Assembly declares Crimea referendum invalid|url=http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47443&Cr=ukraine&Cr1=|newspaper=UN News Center|date=27 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="foxnews.com">{{cite news|title=UN General Assembly approves referendum calling Russia annexation of Crimea illegal|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/03/27/un-general-assembly-votes-yes-on-ukraine-unity/|newspaper=Associated Press|date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ukraine: UN condemns Crimea vote as IMF and US back loans|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26776416|newspaper=27 March 2014|date=BBC}}</ref> In response, the United States and Europe have imposed sanctions against Russian trade.

In February 2017 [[President Trump]] accused Russia of taking Crimea by force and asked whether [[Obama]] was too soft on Russia.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-russia-latest-tweet-accuse-crimea-obama-too-soft-distance-campaign-team-white-house-a7581511.html Donald Trump accuses Russia of taking Crimea by force in attempt to distance himself from campaign allegations]</ref>

In February 2017 [[President Trump]] accused Russia of taking Crimea by force and asked whether [[Obama]] was too soft on Russia.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-russia-latest-tweet-accuse-crimea-obama-too-soft-distance-campaign-team-white-house-a7581511.html Donald Trump accuses Russia of taking Crimea by force in attempt to distance himself from campaign allegations]</ref>