A last-ditch effort is in progress among the parties who have great stakes in the Ukraine crisis. The pro-Russian separatists are hell-bent in carrying forward the 'referendum' in several areas in eastern Ukraine for 'independence' from the 'Kiev' authority.
The decision by these pro-Kremlin activists, despite suggestions by Russian president Vladimir Putin to postpone the 'referendum', brought them on direct collision course with the Ukraine troops who are determined to halt such 'so-called' referendum.
The government in Kiev said it would not allow another 'Crimea' in its territory. This means no separatists agitation would be allowed any more. The 'West' is fully supporting the Ukraine government.
But Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Crimea recently in a clear demonstration of his willingness to assert his country's authority in Crimea, which was an autonomous region of Ukraine not long ago.
He offered olive branch in one hand by supporting the Ukraine presidential elections on May 25, but also stoked tensions by visiting Crimea on the other. The overall Ukraine situation has further worsened with all keeping their fingers crossed about the shape of things to come there in the near future.
Earlier, Russia warned Ukraine of 'catastrophic consequences' unless it halted a military operation against the 'pro-Moscow' gunmen in eastern Ukraine in an indication that Kremlin is moving closer to direct involvement in the months-long crisis.
On the other hand, the United States and its European allies have threatened Moscow with more sanctions and other form of punishments if Russia continues its 'designs' to destabilise Ukraine ahead of the planned presidential elections on May 25, in a tough statement that generated further tensions between the two sides having big stakes in the Ukraine crisis.
The situation has already taken a nosedive as Russian president Vladimir Putin says the Geneva accord among the US, Ukraine, European Union (EU) and his country on certain matters relating to the crisis is 'now dead'. However, his plea to pro-Moscow activists to call off the referendum for the time being is seen as a king of willingness not to escalate tensions with the 'West'. But some European nations and the US said this has been a 'mere eyewash'.
Analysts feel that if the pro-Russian separatists, who have rejected Putin's plea for the postponement of the referendum, finally go ahead with the programme, that would further complicate the overall Ukraine situation. The Ukraine troops are equally adamant not to allow all these 'referendum' to take place.
Tensions and hostilities continue to characterise the Ukraine scenario with the United States and the EU stepping up the pressure on Moscow over the worst East-West crisis since the cold war. Tensions on the ground further spiked when a pro-Russian separatists clashed with the Ukraine troops and the rebels seized another town in clear demonstration of the worsening condition in the Ukraine. Moscow seems to be in no mood to control its supporters in seizing several towns and areas in the eastern Ukraine although it says that the Kremlin has no role on the rebels, who are acting on their own taking a pro-Russian stance.
The US and the EU have flatly rejected Moscow's views on the issue and slapped more sanctions to dissuade Russia from its further involvement in the unrest in Ukraine. Moscow says that it has no plan to invade Ukraine, but the West is hardly assured by such protestations and continues to mount pressure on Russia through economic and other form of restrictions. In a fresh round of sanctions, the US has named seven officials and 17 firms known as close to Russian president Vladimir Putin while the EU also named many others, especially the high ranking military officials.
Russia's 'annexation' of the Crimea -- the autonomous region of Ukraine -- now seems to be almost a 'dead issue' since the development has been accepted as irreversible even though the West is talking about the illegality of Crimea's incorporation with the Russia. United States President Barack Obama and his counterparts from the European nations mince no words against the Russian 'designs', but Crimea for all practical purposes is now a part of the Kremlin -- albeit the controversy surrounding the development. Ukraine itself is also convinced that Moscow has dealt its final blow against the sovereignty of 'Kiev' authority by taking control of everything in Crimea and is now concerned about Moscow's actions in other largely Russian-speaking areas in Ukraine where the rebels have seized government buildings.
But the presence of President Putin in Crimea and his taking the salute at the military parade in the Moscow marking the defeat of the Germany and "victory of the Russia" in the Second World War only shows that Moscow is serious in asserting its authority despite stiff opposition of the 'West'. The coming scenario of the Ukraine crisis is shrouded by uncertainty and much would depend on how the pro-Russian activists carry out their referendum for 'independence' and how the 'Kiev' government and its allies scuttle the scheme.
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