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| Ukraine crisis: Joe Biden offers Kiev support amid renewed tensions | Ukraine crisis: Joe Biden offers Kiev support amid renewed tensions |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Ukraine officials claim Russia has deployed its special forces to destabilise the volatile region. The 11-page document contains images of soldiers in eastern Ukraine wearing similar uniforms and brandishing Russian weapons. 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. | |
| The 11-page document contains images of soldiers in eastern Ukraine wearing similar uniforms and brandishing Russian weapons. 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. |