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Ukraine crisis: US condemns Russian 'aggression' Ukraine crisis: US condemns Russian 'aggression'
(35 minutes later)
The US has accused Russia of an "act of aggression" over its alleged deployment in Ukraine's Crimean peninsula. The US has accused Russia of an "act of aggression" over its alleged deployment on Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.
President Barak Obama said Russian President Vladimir Putin's assertion that no troops had been mobilised was "not fooling anyone", and that Russia had no right to intervene in Crimea. President Barack Obama said Russian President Vladimir Putin's assertion that no troops had been mobilised was "not fooling anyone", and that Russia had no right to intervene in Crimea.
Secretary of State John Kerry, visiting Kiev, has praised the "restraint" of the new government. Secretary of State John Kerry, visiting Kiev, praised the "restraint" of the new government.
Moscow is now in de facto control of Crimea, where tensions are high.Moscow is now in de facto control of Crimea, where tensions are high.
Troops in what appear to be Russian uniforms surround Ukrainian military bases and other installations, while two Ukrainian warships are reported to be blocked by a Russian ship in the port of Sevastopol. Troops in what appear to be Russian uniforms are surrounding Ukrainian military bases and other installations, while two Ukrainian warships are reported to be blocked by a Russian ship in the port of Sevastopol.
In one hint of progress on Tuesday, Ukraine's new Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said tentative talks had taken place between Russian and Ukrainian ministers. He described them as "rather timid" but "first steps", AFP news agency reports.
Mr Yatsenyuk has insisted that there are no grounds for Russian troops to be in Ukraine. Kiev was still prepared to build a new post-uprising relationship with Moscow, he was quoted as saying by the Ukrainian news agency Unian.
'Pretext for invasion'
Earlier, Mr Putin said Ukraine was in "chaos" having been seized by "nationalists" and "anti-Semites", and that Russia had a right to protect Russian citizens in the country.Earlier, Mr Putin said Ukraine was in "chaos" having been seized by "nationalists" and "anti-Semites", and that Russia had a right to protect Russian citizens in the country.
But Mr Obama said Russia had violated international law and was not "fooling anybody". But Mr Obama said the emergence of Russian troops from their barracks in Crimea was not about concern for Russian nationals but "Russia seeking through force to exert influence on a neighbouring country".
The sight of Russian troops out of their barracks in Crimea was not an indication of concern for Russian nationals, he said, "but is based on Russia seeking through force to exert influence on a neighbouring country. "That is not how international law is supposed to operate," he said.
"That is not how international law is supposed to operate."
Praise for Kiev
In Kiev, Mr Kerry also dismissed Mr Putin's denial of troop deployments.In Kiev, Mr Kerry also dismissed Mr Putin's denial of troop deployments.
"I think that it is clear that Russia has been working hard to create a pretext for being able to invade further. Russia has talked about Russian-speaking minority citizens who are under siege... They're not," he said. "I think that it is clear that Russia has been working hard to create a pretext for being able to invade further," he said.
"It is not appropriate to invade a country and dictate what you want to achieve at the end of the barrel of a gun," he said, saying it was "not 21st Century behaviour." "Russia has talked about Russian-speaking minority citizens who are under siege... They're not. It is not appropriate to invade a country and dictate what you want to achieve at the end of the barrel of a gun."
Mr Kerry praised the post-uprising government, saying they had "acted remarkably responsibly by urging total calm, by not wanting to have any provocation". Mr Kerry was speaking after holding talks with interim President Olexander Turchynov, Prime Minister Yatsenyuk and other new government figures.
He was speaking after holding talks with interim President Olexander Turchynov, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and other new government figures. He praised them for acting "remarkably responsibly by urging total calm, by not wanting to have any provocation".
The general secretary of Nato, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has said Russia "continues to violate Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and continues to violate its international commitments," despite the international condemnation. In other diplomatic developments on Tuesday
"These developments present serious implications for the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic area" he said, saying that Nato allies "stand together in the spirit of strong solidarity in this grave crisis". Both the US and the EU have offered financial help to Ukraine, which is facing a growing economic crisis amid its severed ties with Moscow.
Nato and Russia - which is not a member - are scheduled to hold talks on Wednesday. Mr Kerry took to Kiev a $1bn (£600m; 720m euros) package of energy subsidies, and told the crowds who remain in Independence Square after months of protests that President Obama "is planning more assistance".
The EU is considering paying the $2bn which Ukraine owes to Russia in gas bills, AFP news agency quotes EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger as saying.
What is your reaction to this news? Are you in the affected region? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine' in the subject heading and including your contact details.What is your reaction to this news? Are you in the affected region? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine' in the subject heading and including your contact details.