A man waves a national flag of Russia in front of the local parliament in the Crimean capital of Simferopol, Ukraine, March 17, 2014. The Crimean parliament declared independence from Ukraine on Monday, after official results showed 96.77 percent of Crimean voters chose to join Russia in Sunday's referendum. Xinhua/Sadat)

A national flag of Russia is seen outside the local parliament in the Crimean capital of Simferopol, Ukraine, March 17, 2014. The Crimean parliament declared independence from Ukraine on Monday, after official results showed 96.77 percent of Crimean voters chose to join Russia in Sunday's referendum. (Xinhua/Sadat)