Power says Crimea referendum risks escalation

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says a referendum on whether Crimea should remain part of Ukraine or join Russia would be illegal and “highly destabilizing, and would further polarize the situation and gravely enhance the risk of escalation.”

Samantha Power said the United States still believes there’s a diplomatic way out of the crisis in Ukraine “but every day, particularly with moves like that made today in Crimea, the risk of military escalation increases.”