Celebrations in Crimea; concerns in Kiev

  • 10 years ago
When news reaches Crimea that President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty making the Black Sea peninsula part of Russia -- celebrations.

Putin called Crimea "an inseparable part of Russia."

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SEVASTOPOL RESIDENT IRINA YAROVAYA, SAYING:

"It is such a momentous day today. We want to say that we are very proud of our president, Vladimir Putin, because what we have heard from him just now - all these years we could not even dream to hear that."

A very different scene in Kiev, where they remember the dozens killed in late February in Ukraine's worst violence since Soviet times.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) OLEKSANDR SHKLYAROV, KIEV RESIDENT, SAYING:

"Vladimir Putin turned out to be a simple swindler, a dodger. Having approved the referendum under the barrels of guns. I think that he shamed himself before the whole world. I think that the whole world will end relations with him."

Despite strongly worded condemnations, Western nations have b

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