THE CRIMEAN REFERENDUM

THE RUSSIAN POSITION

For Russia, the Crimean Referendum is a chance for Crimean residents to decide if they want to realign their region with Moscow after the political strife in Ukraine that ousted the pro-Russian leader last month. Russia says the political upheaval in Ukraine that forced out President Viktor Yanukovych ended the Kiev government's constitutional authority. Russian President Vladimir Putin calls the ousting of Yanukovych an anti-constitutional coup, and he argues the people of Crimea should have the right to decide their future in the same way as other autonomous regions, such as Kosovo's breakaway from Serbia.

Russia has said that it has the right to intervene in Ukraine to protect ethnic Russians from "fascists" and nationalists. It denies that its forces are militarily involved in Crimea, despite evidence to the contrary.

For Russia, a major motivation is ensuring control of its Black Sea fleet based in Sevastopol, as well as its economic influence in Ukraine and other former Soviet territories and satellites.

THE U.S. AND EUROPEAN ALLIES POSITION

For the U.S. and European allies, Sunday's secession referendum in Crimea is unconstitutional, illegal and a fraud because Russian troops have essentially taken over the southern Ukraine peninsula. Obama and European leaders insist the Crimean referendum violates the Ukrainian constitution and international law. Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations indicates that  the Ukrainian constitution requires territorial referendums to be held "across the entirety of Ukraine and not just in a sub-region like Crimea. She argues that Yanukovych fled on his own volition, and that constitutional authority agreed to in a February 21 deal he reached with opposition leaders and European envoys remained in effect. Under that agreement, Ukraine will elect a new government on May 25 for the entire country, including Crimea. If the referendum goes forward, the result would get little recognition beyond Russia.

Obama acknowledges that Russia has legitimate concerns that needs to be part of a solution, such as guarantees it can maintain the Sevastopol-based naval fleet in Ukraine. However, his call for Russian troops in Crimea to return to their barracks and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine on a solution has so far yielded little progress

The United States has urged Russia to de-escalate the situation by talking to the government in Kiev, pulling back Russian forces in Crimea to their barracks and allowing in international observers to ensure the rights of all ethnic groups are maintained.

In a speech to the German parliament, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Sunday's secession referendum is unconstitutional and that Russia's presence in the Black Sea peninsula violates Ukraine's territorial integrity. She warned Putin that his actions would lead to "catastrophe" for Ukraine. "It would also change Russia economically and politically," she said. In a phone call, French President Francois Hollande told Putin the referendum "has no legal basis," urging the Russian leader to "do everything to prevent the annexation of Crimea to Russia.

THE UKRAINE POSITION

Ukraine’s interim government insists Crimea is part of the country and rejects the referendum as unconstitutional but many in the pro-Russian Crimean region desire the chance to again align with Moscow. The people of Ukraine are now deeply suspicious of Russia.

Ukraine's interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk blasted what he called Russia's illegal "military aggression" against his nation as he addressed the U.N. Security Council in New York on Thursday. But he also insisted that a peaceful resolution that ends with Kiev and Moscow becoming "real partners" is still possible and that he is "convinced that Russians do not want war." He believes there is a chance to resolve these conflicts in a peaceful manner."

The U.S. and the EU seek a diplomatic solution while threatening diplomatic and political sanctions. Both the United States and European Union have threatened sanctions if no significant progress occurs soon, but major economic ties between Russia and European powers, such as Germany, raise questions about the strength of any EU steps.