The United States does not recognize the results of two "illegal" votes in eastern Ukraine on self-rule and views them as an obvious attempt to create further division and disorder in the country, the Obama administration said Monday. "We do not recognize the results," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters. "We're disappointed that the Russian government did not use its influence to forestall these referenda," he said, adding that the focus of the White House now is on ensuring that national elections are held in Ukraine without interference on May 25. Similarly, the U.S. State Department said Washington does not recognize the "illegal referendum" held over the weekend, and spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the voting organized by pro-Russian elements in Donetsk and Luhansk "was an attempt to create further division and disorder in the country."
