Europe and the White House have sharply rejected Sunday’s referendum in Crimea, saying that the international community will not recognize the result.
A White House statement read: “This referendum is contrary to Ukraine’s constitution, and the international community will not recognize the results of a poll administered under threats of violence and intimidation from a Russian military intervention that violates international law.”
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney added that no decision should be made about Crimea's status without the Ukrainian government.
The referendum was described as illegal and illegitimate by two of the European Union’s top officials in a joint statement earlier on Sunday.
European Council President Herman van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that the solution to the crisis in Ukraine “must be based on the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine”.
The pair called on Russia to reduce its armed forces to their pre-crisis number and withdraw them to areas of permanent stationing, in accordance with relevant agreements.
EU foreign affairs ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss the ongoing crisis.
Earlier in the day, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry expressed concern over Russia’s “provocations” in eastern Ukraine, as well as its military activities in Kherson Oblast during a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, according to a senior administration official.
Russia has said that it would back the referendum’s results.
The U.N. Security Council on Saturday moved to urge countries not to recognize the vote, but the resolution was not adopted due to a Russian veto. Thirteen countries voted in favor, while China abstained.
European Parliament head denies Crimea vote legitimacy
European Parliament President Martin Schulz has said Sunday's referendum on the future of Crimea is illegitimate and is thwarting efforts to find a solution to the impasse.
"I regret that this referendum took place as it was illegitimate, illegal and has complicated future efforts to resolve the crisis," Schulz said in a statement as polls closed in Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
He added that the ballot was valid neither under Ukrainian nor international law.
Schulz also reiterated full support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, saying "a united Ukraine must be able to determine its future freely".
He once again condemned Russia's "military incursion" into Crimea and described it as a breach of international law and a violation of Ukrainian sovereignty.
"Arguments that a military action is needed to protect an ethnic minority were often used in the past, with disastrous consequences," he concluded.
Earlier on Sunday, the White House, European Council and European Commission also sharply rejected the referendum in Crimea.
EU foreign affairs ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss the ongoing crisis.
With all eyes on the strategic peninsula, polls closed at 2000 Turkish time. Early exit polls have indicated a high turnout, with one local election official claiming that it was the highest of any election in Crimea's history.
As the vote counting continues, Russian news agency RIA-Novosti reported that 93% of votes cast were in favor of union with Russia.
It is widely expected to be in favor of union with Russia but has been met with international criticism over the presence of more than 20,000 Russian troops in the region, and claims of unconstitutionality under Ukrainian law.
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