KCBS In Depth: No Easy Answers In Ukraine Crisis
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — The situation in Ukraine initially began weeks ago as protests over the handling of a trade pact with the European Union but later escalated to the ousting of the pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. Russian president Vladimir Putin then responded by mobilizing Russian troops throughout Crimea and the southeast of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the Crimea region is anticipating a referendum set by its pro-Russian government for March 16 to decide whether it should re-join Russia or whether it should have a greater autonomy from Kiev.
The White House, along with other western leaders, have declared that the referendum is illegal and violates Ukraine's constitution.
UC Berkeley political scientist and Russia expert Steven Fish and Yuriy Gorodnichenko, a UC Berkeley professor of economics and a native of Ukraine join KCBS to discuss the potential fallout from the Russian incursion.