RE: As far as Crimea is concerned, there was a plebiscite held in Crimea after the annexation in 2014.
and this:
RE: The referendum was approved and held amidst Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
I am not comfortable with a referendum under such circumstances. What is needed is a referendum WITHOUT Russian or Ukrainian interference, observed by neutral, disinterested, third party watchers.
Although I have no illusions that most Crimeans DO NOT want to be part of Ukraine ( Crimea’s merging with Ukraine was a forced Kruschev concoction in the 1950’s ). But still, a referendum accepted by all NOT UNDER RUSSIAN or UKRANIAN OCCUPATION is the best approach to this catastrophe.
You need to invite all the people who were run out of Crimea by the Russians to participate in such a referendum.
That's the same problem with Russia claiming they want to hold a referendum in the eastern provinces. They've destroyed the cities and run most people out. Now they want to hold a referendum? Sorry that's not going to work.
There's the rub. Who is going to bell the cat? Russia and Ukraine would have to agree to it. Putin has made it clear over and over again that Crimea is not on the table.
Maybe we can convince China to us such a solution for Tibet, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.