In eastern Ukraine, pro-Russian separatists are claiming independence based on a victory in a hastily organized referendum. Now, they're resisting a nationwide presidential election that's scheduled for May 25.
With Russian troops still massed near the border, Ukrainian and international mediators are trying to find a solution for the crisis.
There are some very different visions of the future for the volatile region.
One is expressed by Serhiy Taruta, a Ukrainian billionaire who's been appointed governor of the Donetsk region by the government in Kiev.