Simferopol, Ukraine (CNN) -- There has been lots of talk by officials about Ukraine, specifically about the disputed region of Crimea and it possibly joining Russia. There have been threats of sanctions and other punitive measures against Moscow, for allegedly supporting this breakaway from Ukraine, in spirit and in action. Troops -- some uniformed, some not -- have been seen in and around the region, raising worries, even if no one has been shot. But could something big and decisive be coming soon? For as tense as things are now, the fear is that things could deteriorate quickly and bloodily. The trigger may be Sunday's vote in Crimea, where voters can formally set the stage for its secession from Ukraine and becoming part of Russia.
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U.S. warns Americans in Russia about possible "violence or anti-U.S. actions"
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U.S., Russian talks go nowhere: "We don't have a common vision," Lavrov says
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John Kerry: Russia has a choice, will pay price if it annexes Crimea
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Armored trucks rumble through northern Crimea; Russia stages military drill near Ukraine border
While the @placeholder foreign minister and his team did engage in talks Friday, calling them negotiations may be a reach.
The situation seems to have had an impact already within @placeholder, as evidenced by steep declines in its stock market and the value of the ruble.