This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26931251
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine crisis: US warns Russia over 'destabilisation' | Ukraine crisis: US warns Russia over 'destabilisation' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The US has voiced "great concern" about heightened tension in eastern Ukraine after pro-Russia demonstrators seized government buildings in three cities. | The US has voiced "great concern" about heightened tension in eastern Ukraine after pro-Russia demonstrators seized government buildings in three cities. |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry told Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a phone call that any Russian efforts at destabilisation "would incur costs". | US Secretary of State John Kerry told Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a phone call that any Russian efforts at destabilisation "would incur costs". |
| They discussed the possibility of direct talks within the next 10 days. | They discussed the possibility of direct talks within the next 10 days. |
| Ukraine is sending security officials to Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv, after buildings there were stormed. | Ukraine is sending security officials to Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv, after buildings there were stormed. |
| Rebels occupying Donetsk's regional government building declared a "people's republic" on Monday and called for a referendum on secession from Ukraine to be held by 11 May. | Rebels occupying Donetsk's regional government building declared a "people's republic" on Monday and called for a referendum on secession from Ukraine to be held by 11 May. |
| Russia recently annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, where the majority of people are Russian speakers, following a referendum that Kiev and the West say was illegal. | Russia recently annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, where the majority of people are Russian speakers, following a referendum that Kiev and the West say was illegal. |
| Moscow now has thousands of troops massed along its border with eastern Ukraine. Although it insists it has no intention of invading Ukraine, it says it reserves the right to defend ethnic Russians in the country. | Moscow now has thousands of troops massed along its border with eastern Ukraine. Although it insists it has no intention of invading Ukraine, it says it reserves the right to defend ethnic Russians in the country. |
| Russia is refusing to recognise the new authorities in Kiev who took power after pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February. | Russia is refusing to recognise the new authorities in Kiev who took power after pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February. |
| 'Whipping up tension' | 'Whipping up tension' |
| US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that in the telephone call, Mr Kerry "called on Russia to publicly disavow the activities of separatists, saboteurs and provocateurs" in Ukraine. | US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that in the telephone call, Mr Kerry "called on Russia to publicly disavow the activities of separatists, saboteurs and provocateurs" in Ukraine. |
| She said Mr Kerry noted that the actions in eastern Ukraine "do not appear to be a spontaneous set of events". | She said Mr Kerry noted that the actions in eastern Ukraine "do not appear to be a spontaneous set of events". |
| "He made clear that any further Russian efforts to destabilise Ukraine will incur further costs for Russia," Ms Psaki said. | "He made clear that any further Russian efforts to destabilise Ukraine will incur further costs for Russia," Ms Psaki said. |
| The US and the EU have already imposed targeted sanctions on Russian and Ukrainian individuals over the annexation of Crimea. | The US and the EU have already imposed targeted sanctions on Russian and Ukrainian individuals over the annexation of Crimea. |
| Mr Lavrov, in an article on the website of the UK's Guardian newspaper, denied Russia was destabilising Ukraine and accused the West of the "groundless whipping-up of tension". | Mr Lavrov, in an article on the website of the UK's Guardian newspaper, denied Russia was destabilising Ukraine and accused the West of the "groundless whipping-up of tension". |
| He also warned authorities in Kiev against any use of force against pro-Russian demonstrators. | He also warned authorities in Kiev against any use of force against pro-Russian demonstrators. |
| Russia's foreign ministry said it was "closely watching" events in eastern Ukraine, "particularly in Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv regions". | Russia's foreign ministry said it was "closely watching" events in eastern Ukraine, "particularly in Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv regions". |
| It reiterated Moscow's demands for the creation of a federal Ukraine with broader powers for provinces. | It reiterated Moscow's demands for the creation of a federal Ukraine with broader powers for provinces. |
| "Stop pointing to Russia, blaming it for all of the troubles of today's Ukraine," the statement said. | "Stop pointing to Russia, blaming it for all of the troubles of today's Ukraine," the statement said. |
| Pro-Russian protesters seized official buildings in Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk on Sunday night. Police said they cleared protesters from the building in Kharkiv but in Luhansk demonstrators had seized weapons. | Pro-Russian protesters seized official buildings in Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk on Sunday night. Police said they cleared protesters from the building in Kharkiv but in Luhansk demonstrators had seized weapons. |
| Ukraine's interim President Oleksandr Turchynov called the unrest an attempt by Russia to "dismember" Ukraine. | Ukraine's interim President Oleksandr Turchynov called the unrest an attempt by Russia to "dismember" Ukraine. |
| Speaking on national TV, he said it was "the second wave" of a Russian operation to destabilise Ukraine, overthrow the government and disrupt planned elections. | Speaking on national TV, he said it was "the second wave" of a Russian operation to destabilise Ukraine, overthrow the government and disrupt planned elections. |
| He has cancelled a visit to Lithuania to deal with the worsening crisis. | He has cancelled a visit to Lithuania to deal with the worsening crisis. |
| Interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, at an emergency cabinet meeting, blamed Russia for the seizures. | Interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, at an emergency cabinet meeting, blamed Russia for the seizures. |
| "The plan is to destabilise the situation, the plan is for foreign troops to cross the border and seize the country's territory, which we will not allow," he said. | "The plan is to destabilise the situation, the plan is for foreign troops to cross the border and seize the country's territory, which we will not allow," he said. |
| Support for unity | Support for unity |
| His words were echoed by Ukrainian presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko who was in Donetsk on Monday. | His words were echoed by Ukrainian presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko who was in Donetsk on Monday. |
| She said that the pro-Russian activists were working for the Russian secret service. | She said that the pro-Russian activists were working for the Russian secret service. |
| BBC Moscow correspondent Daniel Sandford says that although events in Donetsk appear similar to those in Crimea, there are major differences. | BBC Moscow correspondent Daniel Sandford says that although events in Donetsk appear similar to those in Crimea, there are major differences. |
| Donetsk has many Ukrainian speakers as well as a Russian-speaking majority, and opinion polls there have shown considerable support for a united Ukraine, he says. | Donetsk has many Ukrainian speakers as well as a Russian-speaking majority, and opinion polls there have shown considerable support for a united Ukraine, he says. |
| Also on Monday, Nato said it was limiting Russian diplomats' access to its headquarters in Brussels. | Also on Monday, Nato said it was limiting Russian diplomats' access to its headquarters in Brussels. |
| It comes days after Nato foreign ministers agreed to suspend all practical co-operation with Moscow over its annexation of Crimea. | It comes days after Nato foreign ministers agreed to suspend all practical co-operation with Moscow over its annexation of Crimea. |
| Eastern Ukraine was the political heartland of Mr Yanukovych and has a large Russian-speaking population. | Eastern Ukraine was the political heartland of Mr Yanukovych and has a large Russian-speaking population. |
| Mr Yanukovych fled Kiev for Russia after months of street protests triggered by his refusal to sign an association agreement with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. More than 100 people died in the ensuing unrest. | Mr Yanukovych fled Kiev for Russia after months of street protests triggered by his refusal to sign an association agreement with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. More than 100 people died in the ensuing unrest. |
| Are you in Donetsk, Luhansk or Kharkiv? What is your reaction to this news? If you are willing to be interviewed by the BBC please email bbchaveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject title 'Ukraine' | |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | |
| Read the terms and conditions |