and david kramer is president of freedom house. david kramer, given today's military actions, how serious is the situation right now and how likely is it to escalate? >> every day gets more serious and every day runs the risk of escalating into a full-blown war. the ukrainian authorities have a right and responsibility to restore control of territory, part of the ukrainian territory part of crimea sadly forgotten in this narrative. stirred up by putin and the government, trying to destabilize ukraine, trying to keep it from holding elections three weeks from sunday and doing everything they can to try to make ukraine as unattractive and unappealing to the west and the west needs to do a better job, in my view, of imposing tough, hard-hitting sanctions. >> first, richard burt on this situation. is it that clear-cut to you? >> well, i think david is absolutely right that it is becoming increasingly precarious. it looks as one of your early set-up pieces said that we may be on the edge of a civil war, and i think david is also right t

spoke with david kramer who is president of freedom house.nd an ms amount of violence and turmoil in ukraine at the moment. some officials frightened to take delivery of even valid boxes. how is this election going to be valid? >> it will be valid based on the credibility of the process on sunday when the election takes place. there are going to be lots of international observers on the ground. i hope there will be a decent turnout that will reflect interest in voting for new leadership area devoting in the eastern and southern parts of ukraine will be the most romantic and in some districts they simply will not take place. i think overall the country is prepared. a lot of observers have indicated preparations have been conducted fairly well. >> will this actually make any difference at the end of the day? you have presidents vladimir putin describing the situation is all-out civil war. is about going to change that? rex it is going to be important for ukrainians to go to the news and vote for a president who will have the legitimacy of the b