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| Ukraine crisis: Biden warns of 'humiliating threats' to Kiev | Ukraine crisis: Biden warns of 'humiliating threats' to Kiev |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US Vice-President Joe Biden has said the US stands with Ukraine's new leaders against "humiliating threats" - an apparent reference to Russia. | |
| He was speaking during a meeting in parliament in Kiev, as part of a show of support for Kiev's new pro-Western government. | He was speaking during a meeting in parliament in Kiev, as part of a show of support for Kiev's new pro-Western government. |
| He also had talks with acting President Olexander Turchynov and interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. | He also had talks with acting President Olexander Turchynov and interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. |
| Meanwhile, funerals were due to take place for three men shot on Sunday. | Meanwhile, funerals were due to take place for three men shot on Sunday. |
| The men were killed during a raid on a checkpoint manned by pro-Russian separatists near the town of Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine. | The men were killed during a raid on a checkpoint manned by pro-Russian separatists near the town of Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine. |
| The circumstances remain unclear. The local separatists said the attack was carried out by ultra-nationalist Right Sector militants. Kiev called it a "provocation" staged by Russian special forces. | The circumstances remain unclear. The local separatists said the attack was carried out by ultra-nationalist Right Sector militants. Kiev called it a "provocation" staged by Russian special forces. |
| 'Hotheads' | 'Hotheads' |
| Mr Biden said Ukraine also faced "very daunting problems" and stressed the need for the new authorities to tackle corruption, which he described as "endemic in your system". | |
| He told members of parliament: "The opportunity to generate a united Ukraine, getting it right is within your grasp." | |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the Kiev authorities on Monday of breaking last week's Geneva accord on resolving the Ukraine crisis. | Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the Kiev authorities on Monday of breaking last week's Geneva accord on resolving the Ukraine crisis. |
| He said the Kiev government - not recognised by Moscow - had not moved to disarm illegal groups, especially Right Sector. | He said the Kiev government - not recognised by Moscow - had not moved to disarm illegal groups, especially Right Sector. |
| The authorities in Kiev say they were surprised by Mr Lavrov's remarks and blame Russia for the instability. | The authorities in Kiev say they were surprised by Mr Lavrov's remarks and blame Russia for the instability. |
| A phone conversation between the US secretary of state and Russia's foreign minister earlier led to both sides blaming the other over the crisis. | A phone conversation between the US secretary of state and Russia's foreign minister earlier led to both sides blaming the other over the crisis. |
| In a phone call, Mr Lavrov urged US Secretary of State John Kerry "to influence Kiev, to prevent hotheads there from provoking a bloody conflict," according to the Kremlin. | In a phone call, Mr Lavrov urged US Secretary of State John Kerry "to influence Kiev, to prevent hotheads there from provoking a bloody conflict," according to the Kremlin. |
| Meanwhile, the US state department said Mr Kerry "urged Russia to take concrete steps to help implement the Geneva agreement, including publicly calling on separatists to vacate illegal buildings and checkpoints". | Meanwhile, the US state department said Mr Kerry "urged Russia to take concrete steps to help implement the Geneva agreement, including publicly calling on separatists to vacate illegal buildings and checkpoints". |
| Correspondents say the US has drawn up plans for further economic sanctions should Russia fail to make good on its Geneva commitments, our correspondent adds. | |
| Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told the Russian parliament on Tuesday that Russia would be able to "minimise the consequences" of any further sanctions. | Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told the Russian parliament on Tuesday that Russia would be able to "minimise the consequences" of any further sanctions. |
| Appeals for unity | Appeals for unity |
| The 17 April Geneva accord was agreed at talks between Russia, Ukraine, the EU and US. It demanded an immediate end to violence in eastern Ukraine and called on illegal armed groups to surrender their weapons and leave official buildings. | The 17 April Geneva accord was agreed at talks between Russia, Ukraine, the EU and US. It demanded an immediate end to violence in eastern Ukraine and called on illegal armed groups to surrender their weapons and leave official buildings. |
| Pro-Russian militants are still holding official buildings in at least nine towns and cities in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. | Pro-Russian militants are still holding official buildings in at least nine towns and cities in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. |
| The interim authorities in Kiev said they had suspended operations against pro-Russian militants over Easter, and appealed for national unity. | The interim authorities in Kiev said they had suspended operations against pro-Russian militants over Easter, and appealed for national unity. |
| They promised to meet some of the demands of pro-Russian protesters, which include the decentralisation of power and guarantees for the status of the Russian language. | They promised to meet some of the demands of pro-Russian protesters, which include the decentralisation of power and guarantees for the status of the Russian language. |
| Technical assistance | Technical assistance |
| The Ukrainian government has released photos that it says show Russian soldiers among militants holding official buildings in eastern Ukraine. | The Ukrainian government has released photos that it says show Russian soldiers among militants holding official buildings in eastern Ukraine. |
| The photos appeared to identify Russian soldiers, and show similarly equipped and armed fighters in different cities in eastern Ukraine. | The photos appeared to identify Russian soldiers, and show similarly equipped and armed fighters in different cities in eastern Ukraine. |
| There was no immediate response to the pictures from the Russian government. | There was no immediate response to the pictures from the Russian government. |
| The pictures were handed to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and distributed by the US State Department. | The pictures were handed to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and distributed by the US State Department. |
| Mr Biden is expected to announce technical support to the Kiev government, including economic and energy-related assistance. | Mr Biden is expected to announce technical support to the Kiev government, including economic and energy-related assistance. |
| The White House said President Barack Obama agreed Mr Biden should make the two-day visit to Ukraine's capital to send a high-level signal of support for the reform efforts of Kiev's pro-Western government. | The White House said President Barack Obama agreed Mr Biden should make the two-day visit to Ukraine's capital to send a high-level signal of support for the reform efforts of Kiev's pro-Western government. |
| The elections on 25 May are seen as a crucial step in leading Ukraine out of the country's deepest political crisis since its independence in 1991. | The elections on 25 May are seen as a crucial step in leading Ukraine out of the country's deepest political crisis since its independence in 1991. |
| Ukraine has been in turmoil since last November, when Kiev was gripped by protests against President Viktor Yanukovych over his rejection of an economic pact with the EU. He was toppled in February and fled to Russia. | Ukraine has been in turmoil since last November, when Kiev was gripped by protests against President Viktor Yanukovych over his rejection of an economic pact with the EU. He was toppled in February and fled to Russia. |
| Russia then annexed Crimea following a regional referendum that approved joining the Russian federation. The annexation provoked international outrage. | Russia then annexed Crimea following a regional referendum that approved joining the Russian federation. The annexation provoked international outrage. |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday submitted a bill to parliament to establish a gambling zone in Crimea. | Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday submitted a bill to parliament to establish a gambling zone in Crimea. |
| The president approved a law making it easier for people in former Soviet republics to apply for Russian citizenship. | The president approved a law making it easier for people in former Soviet republics to apply for Russian citizenship. |
| He also signed a decree to rehabilitate Crimea's Muslim Tatars and other ethnic minorities who suffered during the rule of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. | He also signed a decree to rehabilitate Crimea's Muslim Tatars and other ethnic minorities who suffered during the rule of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. |
| However, on Tuesday the Tatar assembly said the leader of the community Mustafa Dzhemilev, had been banned by Russia from returning to the annexed territory for five years. | |
| Mr Dzhemilev was reportedly informed of the ban by Russian border guards as he crossed from Crimea to mainland Ukraine. | |
| The 300,000-strong Tatar community - which makes up 15% of Crimea's population - opposed the peninsula's incorporation into Russia last month. | The 300,000-strong Tatar community - which makes up 15% of Crimea's population - opposed the peninsula's incorporation into Russia last month. |