Present tense, future imperfect

With Western powers and Russia engaged in a nasty conflict, the Ukraine crisis does not seem like ending anytime soon

Ukraine's domestic crisis has become a regional exigency since people in Crimea voted in a referendum to join Russia in March and Russia legalized the accession. The West has denounced Russia's move and imposed sanctions on Moscow, leading to a standoff between Western powers, led by the US, and Russia.

Since Russia's takeover of Crimea, mass protests have spread to eastern Ukraine with armed groups occupying public buildings and even demanding that some provinces be declared autonomous states through referendum. In some eastern provinces like Donetsk and Luhansk, pro-Russia people make up a considerable percentage of the population.