Story highlights
Key questions are in dispute over the crisis in Ukraine
Russia, Ukraine disagree about who's in charge
Ukraine's U.N. envoy says 16,000 Russian troops are in Crimea
Tensions are mounting as Russian troops step up their presence in Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and world leaders push for a diplomatic solution to the escalating crisis.
As ideological battle lines are drawn around the world over the situation, leaders are painting vastly different pictures of the realities on the ground.
Russian and American leaders paint starkly different pictures of Ukraine, blaming each other for a crisis that shows no signs of simmering down.
Who’s in charge of Ukraine?
Russia’s take:
Ukraine’s take: Ukraine has a legitimate government and is set to have new presidential elections on May 25. “Let’s give an opportunity for that to work,” Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.N. Yuriy Sergeyev said.
United States’ take:
How many Russian troops are inside Ukraine?
Russia’s take:
Ukraine’s take:
United States’ take: Russian forces “have complete operational control of the Crimean peninsula,” a senior U.S. administration official told CNN on Sunday, with estimates of 6,000 Russian ground and naval forces in the region
Does Russia have a right to send more military forces into Ukraine?
Russia’s take:
Ukraine’s take: No. Russian troops amassing in Crimea and near the border with Ukraine are an “act of aggression.”
United States’ take: No, and Putin is playing a dangerous game. Obama said Tuesday that the Russian President doesn’t have the right to use force to influence the neighboring country.
Why is the tense standoff unfolding now?
Russia’s take:
Ukraine’s take: There’s no evidence of any threat to Russians inside Ukraine. Russia wants to annex Crimea.
United States’ take:
CNN’s Jim Acosta and Dana Ford contributed to this report.