Impasse in Ukraine
The coup-makers in the Donets region of eastern Ukraine ran a referendum on 11 May and declared a huge majority in their favour. The question was vague, asking people if they supported “the act of state self-rule”, and the figures given by the coup-makers are not to be trusted. Within hours, however, the coup-makers have taken the referendum as authority to declare the region independent and ask Russia to annex it. Russian president Vladimir Putin had said before the referendum that it would be best to postpone it, and may not move quickly to annex. This canny “moderation” gives him more...