US will not recognise Crimea referendum, says ambassador

America’s ambassador in Kiev said the US would refuse to recognise next Sunday’s “so-called referendum” in Crimea, and said Washington would take further steps against Russia if it used the poll to legitimise its occupation.

Geoffrey Pyatt said Barack Obama and the US secretary of state, John Kerry, had spent the weekend talking to European leaders. Obama also spoke to Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin. The ambassador said the US and EU were in complete agreement that stronger sanctions could follow after next weekend’s referendum, adding: “There is no daylight between us.” ..... http://www.theguardian.com