russia had officially recognized the republic of crimea as an independent state and agreed to incorporate the republic into russian federation. however, the international community condemned the referendum as undemocratic and illegal. on 27 march 2014, the united nations general assembly adopted the "territorial integrity of ukraine" resolution, which recognized the referendum as part of the illegal annexation of crimea by the russian federation. one hundred nations, including the united states and the united kingdom, voted in favour of the resolution. fifty-eight democratic nations abstained, and a further eleven voted against.