them an hour ago, but now nick payton walsh is live in the capital city, and russian journalist vladimir posners live in moscow. nick, it is very noisy there with people rather victorious. what are they hopes for this vote? >> reporter: well, it is certainly loud here among the crowd with the russian flag dominant. you can see behind me because of this pretty uncontroversial exit poll you just talked about, but this will take them into the russian federation. two things can stand in their way, a shocker result meaning that vladimir putin accepted the diplomatic pressure against him accepting the off-ramp they are providing meaning him not to indulge the idea of crimea becoming part of russia. that's all pretty far-fetched at this point. i should point out, i'm standing in this display of jubilation and celebration around me. very well organized, well orchestrated, very polite. but i should point out, this vote is only an expected number. a severely strange climate here for a democratic process. we should point out that we have not heard the other side of the story. you normally hear two opinion

. >> we are joined about annalyst vladimir posner.you think that crimea is already lost to russia? >> i rarely agree with senator mccain but reluctantly, i would have to say that i'm afraid that's the case. i hope it is not. i hope over the next two days, there will be a way of negotiating some type of settlement by which crimea would be independent but not part of the russian settlement. i think the majority of people. but still, crimea does belong to ukraine. it is a bad example in my opinion. >> it is hard to have a fair referendum whether you are under occupation which effectively crimea is with the russian relief pro russian troops there. let me ask you this. we talk about this issue of self-determination. one of the peculiar things about this story, both sides, you have the russians and the united states sometimes speaking out of both sides of their mouth on the issue of self-determination. russia. vladimir putin and russia should have the right to decide if they want to be part of ukraine or russia. this sounds different than s

. >> catherine: russian journalist vladimir posner says one look at the people in the streets shows their sincerity. "you saw the tears of joy as they are saying finally we are going home." >>president obama calls the referendum a violation of international law. the future of ukraine must be decided by the people of ukraine. >>the american diplomatic response was noticeably mild: economic and travel sanctions directed against 11 russian officials. one of them responded as if it were a joke, "it's a big honor for me. i woah, this kitchen is beautiful! give him the tour. let me show you! soft-close drawers, farm sink! where's my room? we had to take just a little bit for the kitchen. because your kitchen dreams can be big. ikea has it all. hey. hey. [doorbell rings] what's this? it's u-verse live tv. with at&t u-verse... you can watch live tv from your device. hey. hey. anywhere in your home. [doorbell rings] hey. hey. so you won't miss a minute of march madness. call now to get a u-verse bundle for the same great price for 2 years. guaranteed. safeway presents real big deals of the week. o

we're joined now by vladimir posner. the cnn family. >> well, thank you very much, chris. >> now, let's have at it. looking at it from 30,000 feet, the idea of acceptance by russians in russia for what vladimir putin is doing in the ukraine. state-sponsored research had 73% of russians not wanting any russian involvement in the ukraine's fight for its own sovereignty. do you believe the country is in line with what vladimir putin seems to be doing? >> the answer to that depends what you mean by "in line" i'm. i'm sure 73% if not more do not want to go to war for the crimea or the ukraine. undoubtedly that's the fact. on the other hand, i think they appreciate the tough stance that putin has taken vis-a-vis the russians living in the ukraine and especially in the crimea. >> the idea that there are further encroachments by pro-russian forces that are believed to be russian forces on the peninsula, that they're trying to take control of situations, do you believe that this is what it appears to be to other observers which i