To the surprise of few, Crimea has held a referendum on its future status. To the surprise of fewer still, the vote produced an overwhelming endorsement for joining Russia. To the surprise of none, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Duma, or Parliament, welcomed Crimea, including the naval port city of Sevastopol, back to the fold with open arms.
Crimea became part of Russia in the latter half of the 18th century. Although Nikita Khrushchev gave the region to Ukraine in 1954, it was part of the Soviet Union until its demise in 1991.
Despite Russia's national interests in Ukraine, what Putin and Russia did should be condemned, because it dismembered a state and redrew international borders. This is the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union that Russia has incorporated part of a foreign country's territories into its fold.