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| Ukraine crisis: Joe Biden offers Kiev support amid renewed tensions | Ukraine crisis: Joe Biden offers Kiev support amid renewed tensions |
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| The US Vice-president Joe Biden has expressed his support for Ukraine's new political leaders, urging them to make the most of a "great opportunity" to rebuild democracy in the upcoming elections. | |
| In the most high-level visit of a US official since the crisis erupted, Mr Biden told leaders from various political parties the Obama administration stands with Ukraine against "humiliating threats" and is ready to provide assistance. | In the most high-level visit of a US official since the crisis erupted, Mr Biden told leaders from various political parties the Obama administration stands with Ukraine against "humiliating threats" and is ready to provide assistance. |
| Speaking at the Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, Mr Biden said:"The opportunity to generate a united Ukraine and getting it right is within your grasp. And we want to be your partner and friend in the project. We're ready to assist." | Speaking at the Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, Mr Biden said:"The opportunity to generate a united Ukraine and getting it right is within your grasp. And we want to be your partner and friend in the project. We're ready to assist." |
| The vice president met with nine Ukrainian politicians, including three candidates running for president in the 25 May election, most notably billionaire chocolate 'king' and front-runner Petro Poroshenko. | The vice president met with nine Ukrainian politicians, including three candidates running for president in the 25 May election, most notably billionaire chocolate 'king' and front-runner Petro Poroshenko. |
| Mr Biden urged them to seize a historic opportunity to "make good on the promise of the Orange Revolution", in reference to the protests against corruption and electoral fraud that overturned a widely criticised election where ousted president Viktor Yanukovych was given the presidency in 2004. | Mr Biden urged them to seize a historic opportunity to "make good on the promise of the Orange Revolution", in reference to the protests against corruption and electoral fraud that overturned a widely criticised election where ousted president Viktor Yanukovych was given the presidency in 2004. |
| Mr Yanukovych later took office but fled the country after violent protests erupted in February against his administration, after he refused, at the last minute, to sign a "historic" association and free trade agreement with the European Union. | Mr Yanukovych later took office but fled the country after violent protests erupted in February against his administration, after he refused, at the last minute, to sign a "historic" association and free trade agreement with the European Union. |
| "The truth of the matter is your fellow countrymen expect a whole lot from you right now," Mr Biden added. | "The truth of the matter is your fellow countrymen expect a whole lot from you right now," Mr Biden added. |
| His visit comes after a shootout erupted at a checkpoint manned by pro-Russian insurgents near the eastern town of Slovyansk in eastern Ukraine, which killed three people and triggered a new round of recriminations between Kiev and Moscow. | His visit comes after a shootout erupted at a checkpoint manned by pro-Russian insurgents near the eastern town of Slovyansk in eastern Ukraine, which killed three people and triggered a new round of recriminations between Kiev and Moscow. |
| While the Ukraine government said it was the fault of provocateurs from outside the country, the Russian foreign ministry placed the blame on so-called Ukrainian nationalists, the Right Sector, which later denied their involvement in the shooting. | While the Ukraine government said it was the fault of provocateurs from outside the country, the Russian foreign ministry placed the blame on so-called Ukrainian nationalists, the Right Sector, which later denied their involvement in the shooting. |
| In a statement, the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov accused Kiev of a violating the Geneva accord signed last week, in which all sides agreed to de-escalate the situation and called on the illegal groups of militiamen that have seized government buildings to vacate the premises. | In a statement, the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov accused Kiev of a violating the Geneva accord signed last week, in which all sides agreed to de-escalate the situation and called on the illegal groups of militiamen that have seized government buildings to vacate the premises. |
| Ukrainian authorities have released a series of photographs in the wake of the Slovyansk shooting , which Kiev officials claim prove that Russian forces are operating in Ukrainian territory. The photos have since been distributed by the US state department. | Ukrainian authorities have released a series of photographs in the wake of the Slovyansk shooting , which Kiev officials claim prove that Russian forces are operating in Ukrainian territory. The photos have since been distributed by the US state department. |
| US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the photographs help bolster claims of ties between Russia and armed militiamen in eastern Ukraine. Their authenticity could not be independently verified by The Independent. | US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the photographs help bolster claims of ties between Russia and armed militiamen in eastern Ukraine. Their authenticity could not be independently verified by The Independent. |
| One set of photographs show a bearded man in an image taken in Georgia in 2008. | One set of photographs show a bearded man in an image taken in Georgia in 2008. |
| The same person appears to have been photographed in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine this year. The document labels him as a "soldier of the Russian Special Forces". | The same person appears to have been photographed in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine this year. The document labels him as a "soldier of the Russian Special Forces". |
| Russian has repeatedly denied it has deployed forces in Ukraine. | Russian has repeatedly denied it has deployed forces in Ukraine. |