Changes

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>https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-warns-russia-over-military-moves-crimea</ref> On March 11, 2014, Crimea declared its indepence from Ukraine.<ref>https://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".<ref>https://www.voanews.com/content/eu-crimea-referendum-illegal/1865590.html</ref> Because the referendum 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://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>https://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>https://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=https://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=https://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=https://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=https://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 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>https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-warns-russia-over-military-moves-crimea</ref> On March 11, 2014, Crimea declared its indepence from Ukraine.<ref>https://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".<ref>https://www.voanews.com/content/eu-crimea-referendum-illegal/1865590.html</ref> Because the referendum 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://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>https://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>https://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=https://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=https://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=https://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=https://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>

[[File:Kiev mall in 2014.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Swastika]] on display in a Kiyv mall , February 2019.]]

[[File:Kiev mall in 2014.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Swastika]] on display in a Kiyv mall , February 2019.<ref>https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Ukraine-mall-displays-Nazi-swastika-on-staiFile:Bandera-in-ss-uniform%20(1).jpgrcase-581065</ref>]]

As a result of the annexation of Crimea, the Russian-backed so-called "[[Donetsk People's Republic]]" and the "[[Lugansk People's Republic]]" declared their independence and created an confederation called "[[Novorossiya|Federal State of Novorossiya]]".<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20140607011548/http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_05_24/Donetsk-Lugansk-Peoples-Republics-unite-in-Novorossiya-1012/</ref> Novorossiya was dissolved in May 2015. The Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics however still exist. In June 2014 [[Petro Poroshenko]] was elected as new president of Ukraine<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/poroshenko-sworn-ukraines-president-073208251.html</ref> and [[Arseniy Yatsenyuk]] became prime minister. Since then the Ukrainian government tries to defend its territorial integrity and fights the separatist forces. In December 2017 the Trump administration approved the export of lethal small arms to Ukraine, including a multimillion-dollar sniper rifle deal – something the Obama Administration refused to do – ramping up its support for the country in the simmering conflict with Russia-backed separatists.<ref>Betz, Bradford (December 21, 2017). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/21/trump-administration-oks-sale-lethal-arms-to-ukraine.html Trump administration OKs sale of lethal arms to Ukraine]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 2, 2018.</ref>

As a result of the annexation of Crimea, the Russian-backed so-called "[[Donetsk People's Republic]]" and the "[[Lugansk People's Republic]]" declared their independence and created an confederation called "[[Novorossiya|Federal State of Novorossiya]]".<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20140607011548/http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_05_24/Donetsk-Lugansk-Peoples-Republics-unite-in-Novorossiya-1012/</ref> Novorossiya was dissolved in May 2015. The Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics however still exist. In June 2014 [[Petro Poroshenko]] was elected as new president of Ukraine<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/poroshenko-sworn-ukraines-president-073208251.html</ref> and [[Arseniy Yatsenyuk]] became prime minister. Since then the Ukrainian government tries to defend its territorial integrity and fights the separatist forces. In December 2017 the Trump administration approved the export of lethal small arms to Ukraine, including a multimillion-dollar sniper rifle deal – something the Obama Administration refused to do – ramping up its support for the country in the simmering conflict with Russia-backed separatists.<ref>Betz, Bradford (December 21, 2017). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/21/trump-administration-oks-sale-lethal-arms-to-ukraine.html Trump administration OKs sale of lethal arms to Ukraine]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 2, 2018.</ref>