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Russia risks further US sanctions over Ukraine, says Kerry Russia risks further US sanctions over Ukraine, says Kerry
(35 minutes later)
The US Secretary of State has warned of further sanctions on Russia if it does not de-escalate tensions in Ukraine. The US has warned Russia to tone down its aggressive rhetoric on Ukraine, or face further sanctions.
In a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, John Kerry expressed "deep concern over the lack of positive Russian steps". US Secretary of State John Kerry told his Russian counterpart over the phone that Moscow must call for pro-Russian gunmen to lay down their weapons.
Russia blames Kiev's leaders for the collapse of last week's Geneva accord. Kiev and the West say Moscow commands the gunmen - claims denied by Russia.
Ukraine's acting president earlier ordered the relaunch of military operations against pro-Russian militants in the east of the country. The Ukrainian authorities have re-launched an anti-terror operation to take back several towns in the east overrun by pro-Russian militants.
It came as President Olexander Turchynov said two men - including local politician Vladimir Rybak - had been found dead after being "brutally tortured". Acting President Olexander Turchynov said he had ordered the operation to restart after two men - including local politician Vladimir Rybak - were found dead after being "brutally tortured".
"The terrorists who effectively took the whole Donetsk region hostage have now gone too far," he said. "The terrorists who effectively took the whole Donetsk region hostage have now gone too far," Mr Turchynov said.
The US and the West accuse Russia of using undercover military to back separatists in eastern Ukraine, where public buildings are occupied in at least nine cities and towns. Russia denies involvement. Kiev's military operation to push gunmen out of public buildings began on 16 April but was suspended over the Easter period.
In other developments:In other developments:
'Absence of progress''Absence of progress'
In his conversation with Mr Lavrov on Tuesday, Mr Kerry "urged Russia to tone down escalatory rhetoric, engage diplomatically in the east... and issue public statements calling for those occupying buildings to disarm," according to a senior State Department official. US officials said Mr Kerry had spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday and urged Russia to "tone down escalatory rhetoric [and] engage diplomatically in the east".
"Secretary Kerry also reiterated that the absence of measurable progress on implementing the Geneva agreement will result in increased sanctions on Russia," the official said. The officials said Mr Kerry also demanded that Russia "issue public statements calling for those occupying buildings to disarm and stand down in exchange for amnesty", or face increased sanctions.
The warning came after US Vice-President Joe Biden met Ukraine's new leaders in Kiev, and called on Russia to "stop talking and start acting" to defuse the Ukraine crisis. US Vice-President Joe Biden met Ukraine's new leaders in Kiev on Tuesday and called on Russia to "stop talking and start acting" to defuse the Ukraine crisis.
The US is to provide an additional $50m (£30m) for political and economic reforms in Ukraine, including $11m to help run the presidential election due on 25 May.The US is to provide an additional $50m (£30m) for political and economic reforms in Ukraine, including $11m to help run the presidential election due on 25 May.
In another US move, Washington is sending 600 troops to take part in Nato exercises in the three Baltic states and Poland. The stand-off in towns across the eastern Donetsk region appears to be intensifying.
A defence department spokesman said the decision was designed to show a strong commitment to the alliance as events unfolded in Ukraine. Mr Rybak, a local councillor for the Fatherland party, was found dead near Sloviansk on Tuesday.
Open coffins He had gone missing recently and, according to police, his body was found in a river.
Meanwhile the funerals have taken place of three men shot on Sunday during a raid on a checkpoint manned by pro-Russian separatists near Sloviansk. The other man killed has not yet been publicly identified.
The local separatists said the attack was carried out by ultra-nationalist Right Sector militants but Kiev called it a "provocation" staged by Russian special forces.
The bodies of those killed lay in open coffins at the funeral ceremony at the Church of the Holy Spirit in the centre of Sloviansk.
Announcing the decision to reactivate the military operation in eastern Ukraine, Mr Turchynov said in a statement: "I call on the security bodies to resume and carry out successful anti-terrorist measures aimed at defending Ukrainian citizens living in the east of Ukraine against terrorists."
Kiev's military operation to end the occupation of buildings began on 16 April but was suspended over the Easter period.
Mr Rybak, whose body was found near Sloviansk on Tuesday, was described as a local councillor for the Fatherland party in the nearby town of Horlivka. The other man killed has not yet been publicly identified.
Mr Rybak had gone missing recently and, according to police, his body was found in a river.
"These crimes are being committed with the full support and connivance of the Russian Federation," Mr Turchynov said."These crimes are being committed with the full support and connivance of the Russian Federation," Mr Turchynov said.
In another incident, a Ukrainian military surveillance plane was hit by small arms fire over eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, the defence ministry said. The US had previously said it would impose further sanctions should Russia fail to fulfil commitments laid out in the 17 April Geneva accord.
The aircraft, an Antonov AN-30, suffered minor damage over Sloviansk when it was targeted by automatic gunfire, according to the ministry. No-one was hurt and the plane returned safely to Kiev. The deal stipulated an immediate end to violence in eastern Ukraine and called on illegal armed groups to surrender their weapons and leave official buildings.
The US has previous said it plans to impose further sanctions should Russia fail to fulfil 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.
The 17 April Geneva accord stipulated an immediate end to violence in eastern Ukraine and called on illegal armed groups to surrender their weapons and leave official buildings.
But Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told the Russian parliament on Tuesday that Russia would be able to "minimise the consequences" of any further sanctions.
Ukraine has been in turmoil since last November, when Kiev was gripped by protests over whether the country should lean more towards Russia or Europe.Ukraine has been in turmoil since last November, when Kiev was gripped by protests over whether the country should lean more towards Russia or Europe.
Are you in eastern Ukraine? How has the unrest affected you? You can email us your experiences at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Ukraine'.Are you in eastern Ukraine? How has the unrest affected you? You can email us your experiences at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Ukraine'.