The referendum in Crimea came off as expected with 95% of those voting approving a union with Russia, according to preliminary results. Turnout was estimated at about 65%. The EU is promising the imposition of diplomatic sanctions against Russia effective tomorrow. However, what they have in mind doesn't sound very threatening.
West readies sanctions riposte after Crimea vote
Before the vote, unnamed diplomatic sources in Brussels told AFP the EU sanctions will target "between 25 and 30 names", adding that members of the Russian government would not be included.
"There will likely be members of parliament, members of the security forces ... and a senior defence ministry official but not the minister himself," the source said.
Leading government figures would be exempt because "it would be difficult to impose sanctions" on people you are negotiating a solution with, said the source.
Economic sanctions which would have a much greater impact are on hold for the present. The problem with those is that they cut both ways. Blocking trade with Russia has a negative impact on the people on the other side of the trade relationship.
Economic sanctions against Russia, the bloc's third biggest trade partner, are for now being set aside with some EU members in the east, and some of Germany's biggest companies, worried about angering the Kremlin.
"Along with a few other EU members, we are among the least interested in sanctions," said Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Orecharski, adding that his region would be the "biggest loser" if the measures went through.
In Germany, the chief executive for energy giant EON warned against any "thoughtless damage" to Russian ties.
Germans in general are worried as well. A poll on Thursday in newspaper Handelsblatt said two-thirds of Germans were against sanctions on Russia with 57 percent putting the blame for the crisis on the anti-Kremlin Ukrainians.
The key worry for those opposed to the measures are gas imports from Russia.
Meanwhile Russia has been making threats of military action against other parts of Ukraine. These have been accompanied by statements of the "responsibility to protect" the rights and safety of ethnic Russians in the eastern provinces. There should certainly be some more moves in the drama tomorrow.