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Ukraine crisis: Biden says Russia must 'start acting' Ukraine crisis: Biden says Russia must 'start acting'
(35 minutes later)
US Vice-President Joe Biden has said Russia must "stop talking and start acting" to defuse the Ukraine crisis.US Vice-President Joe Biden has said Russia must "stop talking and start acting" to defuse the Ukraine crisis.
He was speaking during a joint press conference in Kiev with interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.He was speaking during a joint press conference in Kiev with interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
Mr Biden warned Russia that further "provocative behaviour" would lead to "greater isolation" and urged Moscow to end its alleged support for pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine.Mr Biden warned Russia that further "provocative behaviour" would lead to "greater isolation" and urged Moscow to end its alleged support for pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the funerals took place for three men shot on Sunday.Meanwhile, the funerals took place for three men shot on Sunday.
They were killed during a raid on a checkpoint manned by pro-Russian separatists near the town of Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine.They 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' 'Endemic' corruption
Earlier in remarks to Ukrainian MPs, Mr Biden said the US stood with Ukraine's new leaders against "humiliating threats" - an apparent reference to Russia.Earlier in remarks to Ukrainian MPs, Mr Biden said the US stood with Ukraine's new leaders against "humiliating threats" - an apparent reference to Russia.
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".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."He told members of parliament: "The opportunity to generate a united Ukraine, getting it right is within your grasp."
Mr Biden announced the US would provide an additional $50m to help Ukraine's government with political and economic reforms.
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.
Ukraine goes to the polls on 25 May in an election seen as a crucial step in ending the country's deepest political crisis since its independence in 1991.
'Men in masks'
On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the Kiev authorities of breaking last week's Geneva accord on resolving the Ukraine crisis.On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the Kiev authorities of breaking last week's Geneva accord on resolving the Ukraine crisis.
A phone conversation on Monday between the US secretary of state and Russia's foreign minister earlier led to both sides blaming the other over the crisis. And in a phone conversation between the US secretary of state and Russia's foreign minister, also on Monday, both sides blamed 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.
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.Correspondents say the US has drawn up plans for further economic sanctions should Russia fail to make good on its Geneva commitments.
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
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. Mr Biden again accused Russia of supporting "men in masks in unmarked uniforms" who the US says are directing pro-Russian activity in the East.
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. Moscow denies being behind the protests and seizures of buildings in the east.
Technical assistance Ukraine says photos released by the Ukrainian government and distributed by the US State Department 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.
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.
Mr Biden announced the US would provide an additional $50m to help Ukraine's government with political and economic reforms.
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.
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 signed a decree to rehabilitate Crimea's Muslim Tatars and other ethnic minorities who suffered during the rule of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday 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 from returning to the annexed territory for five years.However, on Tuesday the Tatar assembly said the leader of the community, Mustafa Dzhemilev, had been banned 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. Russia has given no officials explanation. Mr Dzhemilev was reportedly informed of the ban by Russian border guards as he crossed from Crimea to mainland Ukraine. Russia has given no official explanation.
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.