[quote=Pepperm1nts]The US stance on this is ridiculously hypocritical, absolutely. But such is the game of politics, I suppose.[/quote]

Well the US is not exactly known for its consistency in these sorts of things. 

[quote=Dinh AaronMk]Not nearly as blatantly. We may occupy other nations on the pretense they may have nuclear weapons and maybe move economic interests into them. But we're not defending any referendums for anyone to become a part of the US. And if Iraq and Afghanistan has shown their elections haven't really turned out with a functionally pro-American government as was in Ukraine (to Russia).[/quote]

I am yet to see anything suggesting the referendum was illegal. Besides, Ukrainian Neo-Nazis(Svoboda is openly fascist) overthrowing the government wasn't exactly "legal" either yet the west let it fly simply because they don't like Russia. This whole situation reeks of hypocrisy.