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Ukraine crisis: President Obama calls on Putin to rein in armed pro-Russian separatists Ukraine crisis: President Obama calls upon Putin to rein in armed pro-Russian separatists
(about 1 hour later)
US President Barack Obama has urged Vladimir Putin to use his influence over armed pro-Russian separatists currently occupying buildings in eastern Ukraine by encouraging them to stand down during a "frank and direct" phone call. Ukrainian tanks have been seen 70 kilometres (43 miles) of Sloviansk, a city controlled by armed pro-Russian separatists, hours after US President Barack Obama urged Vladimir Putin to use his influence by encouraging activists to stand down during a "frank and direct" phone call.
The call was initiated by the Russian president and came after pro-Russian forces defied a deadline set by the Ukrainian government, ordering them to disarm and end their occupation of state buildings by 9am (6am GMT) Monday. Slovyansk, a city some 160 kilometres (100 miles) east of Russia, has come under ever more secure control of the gunmen since Saturday.
Oleksander Turchynov, the acting president of Ukraine, announced the start of an "anti-terrorist operation" in Parliament again this morning, which he said had begun in the "north of Donetsk Region", but gave no further detail on exactly what this entails.
Protesters demanding referendums on either greater autonomy or on joining the Russian federation are now believed to have occupied state buildings in 10 cities across the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.Protesters demanding referendums on either greater autonomy or on joining the Russian federation are now believed to have occupied state buildings in 10 cities across the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Oleksander Turchynov, the acting president of Ukraine, announced his intention to implement an "anti-terrorist operation" in Parliament again this morning, but gave few details of what such an operation will entail. The phonecall was initiated by the Russian president and came after pro-Russian forces defied a deadline set by the Ukrainian government, ordering them to disarm and end their occupation of state buildings by 9am (6am GMT) Monday.
"The president expressed grave concern about Russian government support for the actions of armed, pro-Russian separatists who threaten to undermine and destabilize the government of Ukraine," the White House said in a description of Mr Obama's call with his Russian counterpart."The president expressed grave concern about Russian government support for the actions of armed, pro-Russian separatists who threaten to undermine and destabilize the government of Ukraine," the White House said in a description of Mr Obama's call with his Russian counterpart.
"The president emphasised that all irregular forces in the country need to lay down their arms, and he urged President Putin to use his influence with these armed, pro-Russian groups to convince them to depart the buildings they have seized.""The president emphasised that all irregular forces in the country need to lay down their arms, and he urged President Putin to use his influence with these armed, pro-Russian groups to convince them to depart the buildings they have seized."
EU foreign ministers said on Monday they will add more names to an existing list of those currently targeted by sanctions unless a diplomatic solution to the situation is arrived at, while the White House statement also warned "the costs Russia already has incurred will increase if those actions persist".EU foreign ministers said on Monday they will add more names to an existing list of those currently targeted by sanctions unless a diplomatic solution to the situation is arrived at, while the White House statement also warned "the costs Russia already has incurred will increase if those actions persist".
In its own description of the call, the Kremlin said Mr Putin told Mr Obama reports of Russian interference in the region were "based on unreliable information." The statement also urged Mr Obama to discourage the Ukrainian government from using force against those protesters.In its own description of the call, the Kremlin said Mr Putin told Mr Obama reports of Russian interference in the region were "based on unreliable information." The statement also urged Mr Obama to discourage the Ukrainian government from using force against those protesters.
Mr Turchynov warned rebels on Sunday that a full-scale "anti-terrorist operation", including the army, would be unleashed unless they met the deadline.Mr Turchynov warned rebels on Sunday that a full-scale "anti-terrorist operation", including the army, would be unleashed unless they met the deadline.
But armed protesters claiming to be part of a new "Donetsk People's Republic" instead continued to disobey warnings from Kiev and called upon Mr Putin to “personally direct your attention to the unfolding situation and help us as much as you can”.But armed protesters claiming to be part of a new "Donetsk People's Republic" instead continued to disobey warnings from Kiev and called upon Mr Putin to “personally direct your attention to the unfolding situation and help us as much as you can”.