KYIV. March 11 (Interfax) - The United States will not recognize the results of the referendum in Crimea, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Jeffrey Payette said in Kyiv on Monday.
The U.S. is not ready to recognize any results of the referendum, which is to be held in six days, Payette said.
The U.S. continues to consider Crimea to be part of Ukraine, the ambassador said.
Washington is ready to introduce sanctions regarding Russia due to its stance on Ukraine, Payette said. The U.S. will use a number of sanctions so that these military actions cost Russia dearly, he said.
The U.S. is ready to go even further if the situation escalates, the ambassador said.
The referendum in Crimea is scheduled for March 16. The vote will be held on two questions - "are you in favor of Crimea joining Russia as a Russian region?" and "are you in favor of restoring the Crimean Constitution of 1992 and of Crimea's status as part of Ukraine?"
The new Ukrainian authorities and Western countries have said that the referendum was unlawful.