WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukraine’s prime minister says his country “will never surrender” its independence in the face of a threat that its strategic Crimea region could withdraw from the nation and potentially join Russia.

Speaking at a Washington think tank on Wednesday, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk (ahr-SEHN’-ee yaht-sehn-YOOK’) derided an upcoming local vote in Crimea as directed by Russia and said its results are all but already certain.