As expected, Russia on Saturday vetoed a U.N. Security Council draft resolution that declares that a planned referendum on Ukraine's Crimea "can have no validity" and urges the international community not to recognize it, Reuters reported. Moscow, which has sent thousands of military troops to the Crimea, is supporting Sunday's vote, which would transfer control of the region from Ukraine to Russia. The brief resolution, drawn up by the United States, noted that the referendum was not backed by the Ukrainian government in Kiev. Russia is one of the Security Council's five permanent, veto-holding members.
