Ukraine Reaction To The Crimean Vote For Independence

Kiev Expects West Response After Crimea Vote -- BBC

As voters cast their ballots in Crimea, the mood in Kiev was downbeat: anxiety, mixed with defiance.

Several thousand people filed through Independence Square, still full of barricades and memorials to more than 80 people killed last month by snipers.

And the government announced plans to recruit 10,000 people within the next 15 days for its new National Guard.

"People will have the opportunity to defend the country," interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk told a cabinet meeting.

He also promised that "separatist ringleaders" who were trying to destroy Ukrainian independence would be held to account.

"We will find all of them… and bring them to justice and try them in Ukrainian and international courts," he said.

"The ground will burn beneath their feet."

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More News On Ukraine Government Reaction To The Crimean Vote For Independence

Kyiv Somber, Angry Over Crimea Result -- Voice of America
Ukraine activates reserves following Sunday vote -- Washington Post
Ukraine parliament backs mobilizing 40,000 reservists -- Reuters
Ukraine says Russian proposal on Crimea crisis 'unacceptable' -- Reuters
Ukraine Wants EU to be More Forceful -- Wall Street Journal

My Comment: They had to know that there was going to be blow-back to their imposition of anti-Russian language laws .... if not .... they are then in denial. Their remarks on ethnic cleansing and the persecution of Ukrainians in Crimea is also only going to inflame ethnic tensions in Ukraine itself .... especially in the eastern part of the country.