Putin cautious on 'right' to send troops into Ukraine
Putin: Ukraine government heading towards 'abyss'
(about 3 hours later)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he has "a right" to send troops into Ukraine but hopes he will "not have to exercise that right".
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Ukraine is heading into an "abyss" by confronting pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country.
He was speaking live on Russian TV after a clash in Mariupol, eastern Ukraine, in which three pro-Russian protesters were reportedly killed.
He said claims that Russian agents were acting in the region were "rubbish".
Mr Putin said he hoped the crisis would be resolved through dialogue.
He was speaking live on Russian TV after a clash in Mariupol, eastern Ukraine, in which three separatists were reportedly killed.
Talks have opened in Geneva between Russia, Ukraine, the EU and US - the first since unrest erupted in Crimea.
Talks on the crisis are now under way in Geneva between Ukraine, Russia, the European Union and the US.
In his annual live television phone-in, Mr Putin warned the Ukrainian authorities of "the abyss they're heading into" and urged dialogue.
Russia and Ukraine have been on a collision course since pro-Moscow Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was toppled in February by supporters of more engagement with the West, in particular the EU.
He also admitted for the first time that Russian forces had been active in Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow last month. Previously he had insisted that the camouflaged, masked gunmen who took over Crimea were a local "self-defence" force.
Tensions escalated last month when Russia annexed Crimea - causing international outrage - following protests against the new government in Kiev by its majority Russian-speaking population.
The West says Russia is aiding the pro-Russian activists now occupying dozens of official buildings in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.
Unrest then spread to the Donetsk region and other parts of eastern Ukraine bordering Russia.
Mr Putin dismissed as "rubbish" allegations that Russian special forces were operating there.
Following Wednesday's events in Mariupol and confrontations in other parts of eastern Ukraine, the country's State Border Service announced on Thursday that it was "significantly" restricting entry into the country by adult men from Russia because of the risk of "acts of terror".
Russian-speakers are a majority in Crimea and Donetsk, where ties to Russia are strong. Mr Putin reminded viewers that Tsarist Russia used to call eastern Ukraine "New Russia".
'Grave crime'
"The Federation Council [upper house of parliament] granted the president the right to use military force in Ukraine. I really hope that I do not have to exercise that right and that we are able to solve all today's pressing issues via political and diplomatic means," Mr Putin said.
Mr Putin made his latest comments in a televised question-and-answer session with the Russian public, a talk-show-style programme involving satellite links with audiences across Russia that has become an annual event lasting several hours.
He said the Kiev government, which had "seized power", had only spoken to its own appointees in the region, but "not to the people whom locals trust".
"Instead of realising that there is something wrong with the Ukrainian government and attempting dialogue, they made more threats of force... This is another very grave crime by Kiev's current leaders," he said.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's State Border Service has been quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency as saying that it is "significantly" restricting entry into the country by adult men from Russia because of the risk of "acts of terror".
"I hope that they are able to realise what a pit, what an abyss the current authorities are in and dragging the country into."
Fighting in Mariupol
Mr Putin pointed out that he had secured authorisation in March from Russia's upper house of parliament to use force in Ukraine, but he stressed that he preferred negotiations.
Overnight about 300 pro-Russian separatists attacked a military unit in Mariupol near the Azov Sea, throwing petrol bombs. Troops had opened fire, killing three, Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said in a post on his Facebook page.
"The Federation Council granted the president the right to use military force in Ukraine. I really hope that I do not have to exercise this right and that we are able to solve all today's pressing issues via political and diplomatic means," he said.
Ukraine has now sent in reinforcements including helicopters. There was no independent confirmation of Mr Avakov's statement.
"We must do everything to help these people [in eastern Ukraine] defend their rights and independently determine their own destiny. This is what we're going to push for."
According to Mr Avakov, 13 of the attackers were wounded and 63 were detained. He said none of the interior ministry troops had been killed.
'Provocation'
It is the heaviest casualty toll in any single incident so far in eastern Ukraine.
Responding to Mr Putin's comments, Ukraine's prime minister accused the Russian president of attempting to sabotage the country's forthcoming presidential election, and said Moscow was responsible for deaths in recent clashes in the east.
Retreating separatists reportedly wounded two passers-by, set a minibus ablaze and also set fire to a building next to the military garrison.
"Russia is playing only one game - further aggravation, further provocation - because the task... is to wreck the presidential election on May 25," Arseny Yatseniuk told journalists in Kiev.
"Through joint efforts by the armed police and national guard the attacking gang was dispersed after a short battle, most of them were cornered and disarmed," Mr Avakov said.
Wednesday night saw hundreds of pro-Russian separatists attack a security services base in Mariupol near the Azov Sea.
According to Russia's state-run Vesti TV news, unarmed local protesters tried to talk to the Ukrainian troops but were met with gunfire.
Troops had responded by opening fire and killing three and wounding 13 of the assailants, Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said.
Tensions escalated last month when Russia annexed Crimea, causing international outrage. Unrest later spread to Donetsk region, triggering Europe's worst crisis since the Cold War.
"They came here around 8:15pm, demanding that we surrender our weapons and join the people. There were some women with them, but then they left," said Police Major Oleksandr Kolesnichenko, deputy commander of the base.
Gas worries
"Then they used a truck to break through the gate. There was some incoming fire. I could not see who was shooting - it was dark," he said.
The EU - heavily reliant on imports of Russian gas - has warned Mr Putin not to disrupt the gas flow to Ukraine. Pipelines transiting Ukraine supply gas to many EU member states.
A separatist representative quoted by Reuters news agency, who gave his name only as Sergei, said there had been a peaceful rally at the base.
"We would strongly urge you to refrain from such measures, which would create doubts about your willingness to be seen as a reliable supplier of gas to Europe," EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told Mr Putin in a letter. He called for EU-Russia-Ukraine talks on Russia's contractual dispute with Ukraine.
"We had a peaceful rally to urge the police to join the people. The commander of the compound warned he would order troops to shoot to kill.
Mr Putin took questions from residents of Sevastopol, base of the Russian fleet in Crimea, the first place to feature in his annual live phone-in.
"Then there was shooting. Some people came with Molotov cocktails."
He insisted that Russian speakers in Ukraine "must be equal citizens... it's a question of guarantees for those people".
The clash took place hours after apparently unsuccessful attempts by the Ukrainian military operation to retake territory elsewhere in eastern Ukraine from armed pro-Russian rebels.
The annexation of Crimea has fuelled concern that other parts of eastern Ukraine could also break away from Kiev's control and join Russia.
In one instance, an armoured column of Ukrainian paratroopers lost control of some of their armoured vehicles to pro-Russian separatists.
Russia had acted in Crimea partly out of concern that Ukraine could be "dragged into" Nato as the alliance expanded eastward, Mr Putin said.
'Consequences'
US accuses Russia
The United States and European Union have imposed visa bans and asset freezes on a small number of Russian government officials, but say they are now considering more serious measures, accusing Moscow of encouraging anti-government elements in Ukraine.
Earlier, US President Barack Obama warned Russia against support for further action by armed pro-Russian groups.
"What I have said consistently is that each time Russia takes these kinds of steps that are designed to violate their sovereignty, that there are going to be consequences," US President Barack Obama said on Wednesday in an interview.
"What I have said consistently is that each time Russia takes these kinds of steps that are designed to destabilise Ukraine and violate their sovereignty, that there are going to be consequences," he said.
The EU, which depends on Russia for some 30% of its gas supplies, is currently discussing the possible impact of economic sanctions with member states.
Reports say that the White House is considering a package of non-lethal aid for the Ukrainian military. This may include clothing and medical supplies.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's military operation against separatists has hit obstacles.
Called an "anti-terrorist" operation by the Kiev government, it started on Tuesday and is designed to dislodge pro-Russian gunmen from local authority buildings.
In several districts, Ukrainian troops met vehement opposition on Wednesday from pro-Russian militants.
In the city of Kramatorsk, six military vehicles were commandeered by gunmen, who disarmed the Ukrainian soldiers and sent some of them home on buses.
And just south of Sloviansk, a column of 14 Ukrainian military vehicles was surrounded by local civilians and pro-Russian gunmen, who made the Ukrainian troops unload their magazines and drive off.
The talks in Geneva have brought together foreign ministers of the US, EU, Ukraine and Russia.
The US and the EU want an end to the occupations in eastern Ukraine and for the estimated 40,000-strong Russian forces massed near the Ukrainian border to pull back.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andriy Deshchytsya, called on Russia "not to support terrorist activities in eastern Ukraine."
Russia, which strongly opposed the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych in February, has proposed a new constitution which devolves more power to the regions.
Expectations for the talks are low, says the BBC's Gavin Hewitt in Geneva.
Are you in eastern Ukraine? What is the situation like where you are? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Eastern Ukraine'.
Are you in eastern Ukraine? What is the situation like where you are? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Eastern Ukraine'.
