Changes

===Crimean Annexation===

When the chaos in Ukraine ensued, Russian soldiers landed in [[Crimea]]. Some people living in Crimea are ethnic Russians, and there is a long running 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 independence 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.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/09/26/trump-zelensky-call-why-its-not-just-joe-biden-but-also-russia-robert-mueller-paul-manafort/2442068001/</ref> 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 claimed 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, Sen. John McCain authored the [[Magnitsky Act]] and the Obama administration pressured the [[European Union]] to impose sanctions of their own 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>