the chief foreign affairs correspondent margaret warner joins us from the crimean capital city where a key referendum will be held tomorrow. what's the atmosphere like on the eve of the vote that the whole world is watching? >> well, this was proclaimed a day of quiet before the vote, meaning no rallies, demonstrates, speeches. in fact, the day apparently passed without any prove ovations or confrontations here in crimea. but it's totally enforced by russian, and russian sympathetic, russian supporting crimean troops. when we came to the parliament today, to get our credentials for tomorrow, we met cossack soldiers. the russian flag is flying in the atrium of the crimean building. this is saturday night, and there's a restaurant set up with lights, but there's more russians standing in front of it than kramian customers walking in. when we left town to visit some villages, we had to run a gauntlet of russian-manned or russian regular manned road blocks where we simply let our russian photographer do the talking. >> independent election viewers, tell us about it. you were there. >> we

city home to russia's black sea fleet. had a chance to join in with the celebrating crowds. well the atmosphere has. tricked thousands of people who've gathered in the capital crimean city of some propofol there was a magnificent fireworks display and we saw from the crowd shots russia russia talking to people that maybe they missed it is one of great gratitude to russia for allowing them to be reunited with what they say is their motherland which in the morning there well there we have finally in russia at last a long time dream has come true. it's a holiday celebrating duty as a geisha with russian alister. at least. a half they went back and russia only one now for the russians the population in ukraine south of a russian flags flying everywhere there are cars driving down the main road beating this city grace great excitement but not only here but also in sebastopol any moscow where there are five with displays on the go at the same time now this follows earlier on friday the russian president vladimir putin signing a treaty that had earlier been ratified by the upper house of the russian economy all of us running away from a difficult last sunday in which the

the peninsula and the city of sevastopol to join the russian federation also his point is clear is in crimea for us. they said there's a lot of excitement here in the capital crimean city of some for our poll where people are delighted with the signing by the russian president vladimir putin of a treaty that was unanimously approved by the at the house of the russian parliament earlier it was also voted unanimously by the lower house so this concludes the legal process for crimea and the city of sevastopol becoming fully fledged members of the russian federation it follows on the signing of a treaty back on the eighteenth of march by the russian president and crimean authorities that would see crimea formally joining the russian federation and let me remind you that that happened after a referendum held last sunday now back with a random saw the overwhelming majority of crimean vote in favor of leaving here and reuniting with russia and speaking to people here they say that the main reason for this is that after the government came to power in kiev with the overthrow of the victim yana coverage they feel increasingly targeted as russian speaking citizens they feel

tricked thousands of people who've gathered in the capital crimean city of some for up well there is a magnificent fireworks display happening as i speak to you and every so often the crowd shouts russia russia i mean talking to people i'm ready to message is one of the great gratitude to russia for allowing them to be reunited with what they say is their motherland there are russian flags flying everywhere there are cars driving down the main road to take city grace great excitement here but not only here but also in sebastopol any moscow where there are fireworks displays on the go at the same time now this follows earlier on friday the russian president vladimir putin signing a treaty that had earlier been ratified by the upper house of the russian parliament all of us following a referendum held last may which the majority of people here overwhelmingly voted in support of being reunited with russia that of course follows if he can speak to that happened in kiev several weeks ago in which people here say illegitimate government came to power and many people have continuously specc

in pretty much a celebrates of mood a concert a huge concert in the central square of the crimean capital city just finished literally several minutes ago it's pretty much a party right now although other people still don't know what future holds a head of them the next week certainly will be very much decisive in terms of the actions by moscow by key of fun by. the west but right now it's all about celebration people are genuinely happy about the results of this referendum and i can say that in the last twenty four hours for all the people i've managed to talk here in the city i've met very few who were willing to vote in favor of staying within the iranian territory most of them have been saying about joining russia and for them see it seems to be a real perspective which they are pretty much keen on seeing in their future certainly waiting until nine o'clock in the morning local time for the final results to be published and that will be followed by a meeting of the of the local council which will finalize the results and ask for more steps after this referendum all right alexei thanks for

unmarked convoy of about 70 military vehicles was spotted on a road leading through crimea's capital city today. crimeanicials say it's believed to be carrying russian soldiers. and russia's president continues to defy the u.s. and europe by using military force in ukraine. one country president putin may not be able to anchor too much is germany. some believe angela merkel might emerge as the key figure in this crisis. brian todd explains why. >> reporter: it's no secret president obama's strained relationship with vladimir putin isn't helping in this crisis. but who can solve it? it may be the stoic daughter of a pastor, germany's chancellor, angela merkel. >> vladimir putin knows from experience with ms. merkel the last enemy he wants right now in europe is germany. >> reporter: he has huge, exports technology and cars to russia, but analysts say what makes merkel so crucial in this crisis is that she has something that obama doesn't. a personal connection with russia's president. >> they have a lot of connectivity, because putin speaks very fluent german and angela merkel herself speaks russian. >>

all sorts of similar scenes in moscow and the crimean capital of simferopol and there was a glittering display of fireworks in nearby sevastopol as well a city which is home to russia's black sea fleet. joined in the celebrating crowds. well the atmosphere has sent me is trick thousands of people who've gathered in the capital crimean city of some provocative there is a magnificent violence display and we saw from the crowd shots russia talking to people and maybe the message is one of great gratitude to russia for allowing them to be reunited with what they say is the motherland which in the morning there well they really have finally in russia at last a long time dream has come true just. as a lesson to the brits and to the unification with russia ali hysterics model and. i think a half they went back and russia. now for the russian speaking population in ukraine south of our russian flags flying everywhere there are cars driving down the main road meeting this city grace of great excitement but not only here but also in sebastopol any moscow where there are five with displays on the go at the same time now this follows earlier on friday t

well mummy city is a lot of excitement share any capital crimean safety of some falafel with people i'm delighted with the signing by the russian president that in your pursuit of a tt then was unanimously approved by the halls of the russian prominent area that was also voted unanimously at the noaa house so this concludes the vehicle price is a full time yet innocent eos of obstacle to complete its commanders of the russian federation. if the zombie signing of the pt company eighteenth of march by the russian president and prime yall twenty fifth with the crimea for me joining the russian federation and the mind to think that happens often with them and then held last sunday. now that the commitments or the overwhelming majority of crimea is a vote in favor of leaving kids and me and nineteen with washington speaking to people yet they say that the main reason for this is the call to the government came to power in camp with the overthrow of dictator and a convict. they feel increasingly targeted as russian speaking citizens they can increasingly unsafe did he points to this new visio

convoy of about 70 military vehicles was actually spotted on a road leading through the capital city today. crimeanials believe believe it's carrying russian soldiers. today, ukraine officials said armed men stormed officers and took over. yesterday, troops in -- said pro russian forces tried to take over a base, but the they refused to surrender. also, observers from the organization for security and cooperation in europe were not allowed into crimea again. that's three days in a row they have been kept out. and russia is denying any role in this stand off. the country's foreign minister said today the russian military is not involved. he also said russia is ready to talk, but that might not get very far since russia has sharply criticized ukraine's interim government. >>> the u.s. has called russia's actions an invasion and that sparked a flurry of accusations from washington that the intelligence community was caught off guard. coming up, what did the u.s. know and was it enough? and new video of the mother who drove her mini van into the ocean with her children inside. she made her first court

crimean border today. for more we turn to elizabeth palmer who is in the capital city of simferopol. liz, what can you tell bus reports that there are more russian troops heading into crimea? >> reporter: well, the kremlin said it won't annex crimea, and yet they seem to be building up their troop strength. there was a convoy today that was seen driving across the passenger, 60 trucks with heavily armed soldiers on board. witnesses say they were brought in from russia. they're new ones, and they were brought in, in amphibious landing craft. the unarmed observers, you mentioned a minute ago, they tried to come into crimea across this narrow neck of land that separates it from ukraine. they were turned back by the paramilitaries. this is the third time it's happened. it's not clear why they don't just get on a plane or a train, because at the moment there are no controls at either the airport or train station but that may not be true for much longer. there were men observed on the border today digging holes as if they're going to erect, perhaps, a real border fence for a territory that

. >> in the crimean capital simferepol, a pro-russian demonstration attracted thousands. a week before deciding whether crimea should join russia or city ukraine. some have already been to moscow. >> if you know what it is like and feels in moscow, and how happy the russian government was. i thought it was not us joining russia, but russia joining crimea. last week russia captured a base in balaclava bay. on sunday morning russian forces took another base like it in western ukraine. life in this resort town is largely uninterrupted. this man lives here and says he will stay, no matter how the vote goes next week. >> translation: i like it here. i love the sea, the nature, i want to live here. if the majority want to be with russia, we'll be with russia. the blockade makes chores like taking out the trash arduous. no one knows what will happen to the black sea fleet and its sailors. >> the polls have closed in columbia's election. sunday's vote is viewed as an election on peace talks. the president contained control and will run for re-election. he's an advocate for a peace deal with f.a.r.c. rev else. his rival won is seat in the senat

a nation with regional police we see these people here on the streets of the capital simferopol and in other crimean cities state patrolling streets day and night and not only protecting governmental buildings or strategic areas but actually all they see. all the latest developments we're hearing now is that the authorities in kiev dismissed the commander of ukraine's navy following his pledge of allegiance to crimea the self-appointed government has accused him of treason and named a new head of the navy when the most number of people in crimea who refused to recognize a new government in kiev a wave of protests are spreading across the southeast of the country to auntie's like he had a shift he reports from harkov which is in the east of ukraine. certainly the division in the country which mario was talking about was very easily tangible here on saturday when the pro russian activists and those who are not supporting the new with authorities in kiev a clash with the so-called activists of the year of my down who were securing the local administration they managed to get inside the administration and russ

crimean peninsula once again. armed and masked pro russian forces the ukrainian dance illustrates the good news capital city girl the doomsday to duplicate the pro russian federation the regional government has set a referendum promote the sixteenth with a good way to win from ukraine and georgia. these days the total premiums will to become plus the russians when the tickets and many of us these cookies that makes a lot of ukrainian sacred news features include uk. i did mimi. we all live together in peace. rockin' it out with ukrainian what we need russian ukrainian. the ones that exists here. we didn't think anybody it is tuesday of the shoe will help the regional government manipulate the referendums results. kiev has already rejected it as unconstitutional and says it was the key. so the you can see this through implement the decision. either the go and the other is the love the way hall to protest but to say to the international community that the results will be in all climates the russian foreign minister insists grimy and was determined there and status we want to have a spare dialogue with equal standing w

crimean secession. i'm very worried the problem. almost all these crafty stuff. the capital of slovakia i was in the city on the danube. the interior ministry is already preparing for possible way to fit jeans from ukraine. just when ready to take it a thousand ukrainian refugees in the sense that we could immediately put them in asylum seekers accommodation on the border. if that's not enough road for seats could set up tents for about ten thousand people the test opener. true we've discovered that the minute you surprisingly still and relaxed. every win is a great amount of bs that ukraine could eventually disappear from the map. this conservation efforts are driven by the increasingly alarming facts about our ecosystems around the client kenya has seen many projects come and go. they bought into the same time it's to find my balance between the needs of the locals are designed to protect mates at kenya's new concrete use to be of its fishing grounds. now the next often remain empty meeting many locals desperate to make ends meet. a conservation group called al hot meaning of our complicity is a symbol of locals and

in this one crimean village they are praying now that the soldiers have come this far, they will go no further prrlt. >> itn on the ground in the capital city reporter: for three months they ecapital. they do so again. they face a more potent threat, one the defense team would be unable to propel. >> i want to fight for my country. i want to fight for my people. >> we don't need occupation. we don't need war. >> reporter: the fear of a full scale russian invasion runs through this nation from the ordinary citizens right up to those who are readying their military for war while desperatede desperately seeking peace. press conferences, words spoken leaves no one in doubt of the jeopardy ukraine is in. how big do you feel the threat is from russia and what's your message to vladimir putin. >> this is not the threat. this is actually the declaration of war to my country. we urge president putin to pull back his military. if president putin wants to be the president who started the war between two neighboring and friendly countries, between ukraine and russia, so he has this target, we are on the brink of the disaster. >> that is why young ukrai

crimean peninsula. it continued to patrol the streets of such terrible. well that's the regional capital. paul saying cat said douglas herbert auntie some twenty five km outside the city near a major ukrainian military base that can cost to him and now for the latest outbreaks yes i let the petty probably a military base to ukrainian military base twenty five km south east of the crimean capital and what we've been witnessing over the past now is a gradual what seems to be a very tense standoff in the making here what you see behind the arc. russian commandos. several dozen of them perhaps as many as two hundred heavily armed. i was speaking to one before not denying that they are rushing in a rustic minutes keep going around the perimeter of this ukrainian based in the past few minutes we saw dozens of soldiers of russian commandos with machine guns emerging from a boat military vehicles military trucks a couple of them mounted with heavy machine guns deployed around the perimeter of the youth of this ukrainian base here. now we have not seen at least i have not seen in the ukrainian soldiers show their face today. they may be inside the barracks hold up. we had know

coordination with regional police we see these people here on the streets of the capital simferopol and in other crimean cities they are patrolling streets day and night and not only protecting governmental buildings or strategic areas but actually all they see. or the latest development we're now hearing is that the authorities in kiev have dismissed the commander ukraine's navy following his pledge of allegiance to crimea we want it's not just people in crimea who refuse to recognize the new government in kiev the wave of protests is spreading across the southeast of the country to an artist. in eastern ukraine. certainly the division in the country which maria was talking about was very easily tangible here on saturday when the pro russian activists and those who are not supporting the new with authorities in kiev collapsed with the so called activists of the year of my down to work securing the local administration they managed to get inside the administration and put a russian flag on top of it they have been reports of tear gas used and scores of injured the official line of that more than a hundred peop

crimean vote on the referendum to vote in russian illegitimate decision. it's a vote deeply dividing crimea. pro russian supporters pack the capital city for a huge rally and pro ukrainian demonstrators are telling russian forces to get out of crimea. today russian president vladimir putin called david i had cameron and angela merkel. called david cameron and german chancellor angela merkel. according to the government the leaders have a different assessment on what's happening on the ground in ukraine. they do agree the situation needs to be deescalated. joining me now via skype is cnn's former moscow bureau chief jo dougherty, fellow at harvard. good to see you, jill. how do you interpret conversations voluntarily taking place between putin and cameron and merkel. what can happen? it is more meaningful that any more conversation vladimir putin would have with president obama than he did last week. >> one thing, look at vladimir putin and how he traditionally acts, he tries to present his position as being legal. he is a warrior by training. so he's always saying we are abiding by the letter of the law. so in this circumstance you hav

capital city, kiev, within hours. his visit comes as russian troops tighten their grip on the crimean peninsula, reportedly preparing tonarrow land link to ukraine. >> catherine: as many as six thousand russian soldiers now occupy positions around ukrainian army posts on the peninsula. >> catherine: in leview, in western ukraine, troops loyal to the government are mobilizing so far the two sides have only traded verbal shots , on the floor of the united nations. >>this action by the russian federation constitutes an act of aggression >>it's well known who created the crisis in ukraine, disputing the absolutely legitimate actions of legitimate authorities. russia has strong ties to crimea. >> catherine: the peninsula was part of russia as recently as 1954, when soviet leader nikita khrushchev handed it over to ukraine. >> catherine: russia's black sea fleet is still based here. >> catherine: a majority of the people still speak russian. like this army veteran waving the russian flag, many of them welcome the russian takeover. in moscow-- russia's parliament is considering legislation that could ultimately lead to the an

votes were counted there was celebration in the russian capital and in crimea as main city of simferopol fireworks drew crowds with many crimean saying they were ecstatic about the potential is new status. watching the bring them well here we have a meeting and finally even russia at last a long time dream has come to nothing. and it's a lesson the plates and do you think they should fashion and alan hysterics now demand the. oh yes. i think me and a half day went back to the national only want me now for the russian speaking population in ukraine south. and in the south and east of ukraine people there continue taking a discontent with the new kiev authorities to the streets mass rallies happening almost daily over the weekend thousands protest in ny proper tropes kharkov in odessa rallies often marked with strong pro russian the sentiment people also voicing concern about far right movements gaining power in kiev some calling for a federal is ation of the country and for independence referendum many demanding that the ousted president be restored to power the city of donetsk one of the main flashpoints of the rallies this we

votes were counted it was celebration in both the russian capital and in crimea his main city of simferopol fireworks drew large crowds with many crimean the saying they were ecstatic about the peninsula's new status. watching that one them well that we have now finally in russia at last a long time dream has come to nothing but. its own it's a lesson of greats and beauty unification with masha allen he started modern man. i think all crimea and i have to he went back in russia only want to now for the russian speaking population in ukraine south. and. in the east and south ukraine people continue to take their discontent with the new kiev authorities to the streets mass rallies have gone on almost daily there over the weekend thousands protesting in kharkov odessa and other cities rallies often mark was strong pro russian the sentiment the people also voiced concerns about far right movements are gaining power in kiev some are calling for a federal is ation of the country as well as for independence referendums many demanding that the ousted president be restored to power the city of donetsk also one of the main flashpoints of the ral

it spreading across the south east of the country and more if it isn't the crimean a capital and it's a dash of sky is in the cityof hanukkah right now hello to you both so very ill let's go for us to your question is a bring us up to date about the latest on the peninsula. well the main mass it should that too we hear from crimea is a free shows and now syria have to interrupt myself because the reason they called to a job. obviously rose russian. demonstrators. and you can see and you can understand what is the masses that they're sending now to this is the mood here on the financial arch while the entire country is divided in two days you are supposing the country's new also those who don't you get them as legitimate power here in the crimea the mood is why do you now dimmers people. people support russia and russia's recent decisions and they join to to one. being with kiev's new masters and talking about security and safety here in the region a very important question what will be going on with the ukrainian military stationed here on the peninsula the main message that we hear from crime is officials is tha

is in the crimean capital and that she had a chef skee is in the city of cockle for us. well the main massa chat to hear from crimea is a free shows and now syria have to interrupt myself because the reason they call change of. obviously pro russian. demonstrators. and you can see and you can understand what is the masses that they're sending now to this is the mood here on the financial are while the entire country is divided into those who are supposed to the country's new authorities in those who don't trick nies them as legitimate power here in the crimea the mood is why do you nana mess people. people support russia and russia's recent decisions and they don't to want to be with kiev's new masters and talking about security and safety here in the region and a very important question what will be going on with the ukrainian military stationed here on the peninsula crimea as officials are saying that they're either leaving their posts and the military forces and leaving their arsenals or and as we understand this is in the majority of the cases they're siding with cri

city. but not something you see every day. >> just a few weeks ago that snipers were firing upon protesters. let's go to anna corn in the capital of the crimean region. what is the sentiment there, do they want to become part of the russian federation? >> reporter: absolutely, jake. there is an overwhelming support for this referendum. the people we spoke to said this is people power at work. we spoke to one woman who was born here when it was part of the soviet union and she said this is only right that it returns to the mother land. we have to remember that 60% of cry me ans are ethnic russians. so strong cultural and historical ties between crimea and russia.iy me ans are ethnic. so strong cultural and historical ties between crimea and russia. me ans are ethnic r. so strong cultural and historical ties between crimea and russia.me ans are ethnic ru. so strong cultural and historical ties between crimea and russia.ans are ethnic russi. so strong cultural and historical ties between crimea and russia. have a listen to what they said earlier today. >> how will you vote some. >> translator: we are from crimea. we were born here when crimea wa

crimean cities are "not" members of the russian army. >> catherine: he described them as local defense forces, secretary of state john kerry is in kiev, capitaline, visiting a memorial for the protestors who died last week. >> catherine: in washington, president obama announced a billion dollars in loan guarantees and issued a new warning to moscow. >>"i think everybody recognizes that although russia has legitimate interests in what happens in a neighboring state that does not give it the right to use force as a means of exerting influence inside of that state." >> catherine: the president's options are limited. it won't be easy to impose economic pressure, because russia could retaliate. cutting off 80 percent of ukraine's natural gas. and the pipelines that criss-cross the country also supply europe, without russian deliveries, the e=u would run out of natural gas in a matter of weeks. >> pam: coming up. >> pam: a south bay campus on a high alert following several brazen armed robberies. plus -- pulling out all the stops. mardi gras celebration in full swing today. and size does matter. a crackdown on carry-on luggage, next. ♪ [ male annou

votes were counted it was celebration in both the russian capital and in crimea his main city of simferopol fireworks through crowds many crimean saying they were ecstatic about the peninsula's new status. watching doubling them well here we have a meeting and finally the russia at last a long term dream has come to nothing but. its own it's a lesson to the greats and to the unification with flash and all he started. i think i have to i went back and. only want to now for the russian speaking population in ukraine south. and in the east and south ukra of ukraine people continue to claim their discontent with the new kiev authorities to the streets. rallies happening almost daily over there over the weekend thousands protesting in ny proper tribes kharkov odessa and other cities around these often marked with strong production sentiment and people voicing concerns about far right movements gaining power in kiev some calling for a federal is ation of the country and for independence referendum many are demanding the ousted president be restored to power done yet one of the main flashpoint cities this week and its streets were fil

capital city, kiev, within hours. and there are reports the u-s is suspending some upcoming trade and commerce with russia. secretary kerry's visit comes as russian troops tighten their grip on the crimean peninsula. the russian military is reportedly preparing to defend the narrow land that links it to ukraine. as many as six thousand russian soldiers now occupy positions around ukrainian army posts. >> if an fact that continue, we are examining a whole series of steps economic and diplomatic. we will have a negative impact and that is the status in the world. >> president obama also called on congress to work with his administration on economic help for ukraine. and on monday, russia's foreign minister slammed the west for threatening "sanctions and boycotts" over russia's actions in crimea. >> some residents near the cow palace are without power right now. pg&e says a over 2300 customers are affected. the outage started around 3:00 a.m.. pg&e hopes to get things back up and running by 6:00 a.m.. the cause is under investigation. >> coming up on the kron4 morning news. a woman is arrested for attacking her mother with a hammer. details of the story coming up. >> a man failed attempt t

well the crimean delegation is in moscow until tomorrow and one of the proposals on the table is actually to make suggest a pole where you have the russian military feet the capital and not the city where i'm standing some for. poll the russian president vladimir putin reiterated what he said before and that is that the ukraine should not become the reason for relations between the west and russia to deteriorate he also shared and again he said this before that sanctions are not going to achieve anything he said that sanctions will only backfire and that is the message that the russian president has given before obviously people here on the ground are watching this meeting very closely and again there's a saying that whatever is said in russia or is something that is a message to them to people here in crimea and president putin and president obama talks on the phone for an hour last night then anything significant come out of that conversation what was said it doesn't maybe seem as if there was anything particularly significant from that conversation essentially the two feet of president putin and president obama agreeing to disagree and it doesn't seem as if there was any other