Ukraine remains in a precarious spot

Crimea
A man held a Crimean flag in front of the Crimean parliament building on March 17, 2014, in Simferopol, Ukraine. People in Crimea voted to secede from Ukraine March 16.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Ukraine today is in a precarious position, with Russia attacking its military bases in Crimea and annexing its territory. And although Western nations have been swift and united in their condemnation — imposing economic and diplomatic sanctions, for example, and expelling Russia from the G-8 — it seems clear that Russia's takeover of Crimea will stand.

We speak with Foreign Policy Initiative fellow James Kirchick about the current situation. James has been in Kiev this week meeting with Ukrainian political leaders, government officials and opposition activists. We ask Kirchick how the annexation of Crimea has affected the fragile state of the country.

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