Corey Flintoff

Residents of eastern Ukraine are trying to figure out what happens next, now that pro-Russian separatists have claimed independence. But there's even disagreement over what's feasible.

Two regions of eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk, voted Sunday on referendums for self-rule. Separatists in Donetsk announced overwhelming support for independence.

Residents of two regions of eastern Ukraine wrapped up voting on Sunday in a controversial referendum over independence from the central government in Kiev. The vote has been rejected as illegitimate.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is pulling his forces back from Ukraine's border. He also is calling on separatists in eastern Ukraine to postpone a referendum planned for Sunday. This news might be a breakthrough — or just a head fake.

A new legal measure will place a host of restrictions on Internet companies and users. One provision will require bloggers to register with the government if they get more than 3,000 hits a day.

Russia is calling the the Ukrainian military action a "punitive operation," language that was previously employed for Nazi atrocities carried out in World War II.

Moscow has accused the U.S. and EU of destroying hopes for peace in eastern Ukraine by supporting the interim government's attempts to retake towns occupied by pro-Russia militants.

Russia reacted angrily to new EU and U.S. sanctions, which were imposed in response to Russian interference in Ukraine. Russia's deputy foreign minister vowed to deliver a "painful" response.

On Monday, President Obama announced the latest measures aimed at punishing Russia for its links to violence in eastern Ukraine. Russia accuses the U.S. of "Cold War tactics."

Moscow is demanding that Kiev's new constitution give so much autonomy to its diverse regions — particularly the Russian-speaking ones — that they could even conduct their own foreign policy.