European voted overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine , its leaders said . The United States says Russia 's political upheaval negated constitution , so population free to vote . Ukraine and its Crimeans allies say the vote was not legitimate . The standoff resembles Cold War tensions .
Crimeans voted overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine , its leaders said . Russia says Ukraine 's political upheaval negated constitution , so population free to vote . The United States and its European allies say the vote was not legitimate . The standoff resembles Cold War tensions .