Uncommon Commentary #416: You and the UN and the Ukraine

Here’s my proposed resolution of the crisis in the Ukraine: Solicit the assent of the warring parties, as well as of Russia, to the holding of an UN-sponsored referendum on independence for the areas in question.  The terms of this plebiscite would be as follows: Monitors from neutral countries would oversee the voting; Should the denizens of the disputed regions vote to secede (and then join Russia, if they so choose), they’ll be allowed to do so in peace; If they vote against secession, UN troops will be sent to the area to prevent any further insurgence.  Wouldn’t either outcome be preferable to a continuance of the bloodshed?