The United States said on Thursday that the Ukrainian government should have a role in deciding the future of its autonomous republic of Crimea.
"With respect to the referendum that was announced, it is the belief of the United States that decisions about Crimea or any part of Ukraine needs to be made with the government in Kiev," a senior U.S. official told reporters via teleconference on condition of anonymity.
Crimea's parliament voted Thursday to become a part of Russia, and set a referendum for March 16 for the Crimean people to decide whether to remain part of Ukraine or join Russia.
"This is a country with clearly defined international borders," the U.S. official said. "And the government in Kiev has to be a part of any decisions that are made about the future of Crimea or any other region."
The Obama administration on Thursday announced visa bans and assets freeze against those involved in what it called Russia's takeover of Crimea, following suspension days ago of trade and investment talks and military-to-military engagement with Russia.
Russia does not recognize Ukraine's new government put in place after pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted on Feb. 22, and called what took place in the neighboring country a coup.
The U.S. official, however, said "You can't have a situation in which the legitimate government of the country is excluded from decision-making about different parts of that country. That is clearly a violation of international law and of how these things are done." Endite
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