We're leaving. No, you're not.
That's where the crisis in Ukraine stood Thursday after lawmakers in Crimea voted in favor of leaving the country for Russia and putting it to a regional vote in 10 days.
This act drew widespread condemnation, with Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk calling such a referendum 'an illegitimate decision.'
'Crimea was, is and will be an integral part of Ukraine,' he said.
It was a sentiment echoed by several world leaders, who called the scheduled vote and possible pullout violations of Ukrainian and international law.
'Any discussion about the future of Ukraine must include the legitimate government of Ukraine,' said U.S. President Barack Obama. 'In 2014, we are well beyond the days when borders can be redrawn over the heads of democratic leaders.'
It's not clear how easily the region could split off from Ukraine even if the referendum endorses the move.
The developments came at a dizzying pace Thursday as Yatsenyuk joined emergency talks in Brussels, Belgium, called by leaders of the European Union who support the Kiev government and want to de-escalate the crisis.
The EU and the United States announced plans to freeze the assets of Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted as Ukraine's president after he turned his back on a trade deal with the EU in favor of one with Russia.
The rejected trade deal prompted mont.