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| Russia risks further US sanctions over Ukraine, says Kerry | Russia risks further US sanctions over Ukraine, says Kerry |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The US has warned Russia to tone down its aggressive rhetoric on Ukraine, or face further sanctions. | The US has warned Russia to tone down its aggressive rhetoric on Ukraine, or face further sanctions. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Kiev and the West say Moscow commands the gunmen - claims denied by Russia. | Kiev and the West say Moscow commands the gunmen - claims denied by Russia. |
| The Ukrainian authorities have re-launched an anti-terror operation to take back several towns in the east overrun by pro-Russian militants. | The Ukrainian authorities have re-launched an anti-terror operation to take back several towns in the east overrun by pro-Russian militants. |
| Acting President Olexander Turchynov said he had ordered the operation to restart after two men - including local politician Volodymyr Rybak - were found dead after being "brutally tortured". | |
| "The terrorists who effectively took the whole Donetsk region hostage have now gone too far," Mr Turchynov said. | "The terrorists who effectively took the whole Donetsk region hostage have now gone too far," Mr Turchynov said. |
| Kiev's military operation to push gunmen out of public buildings began on 16 April but was suspended over the Easter period. | 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' |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The stand-off in towns across the eastern Donetsk region appears to be intensifying. | The stand-off in towns across the eastern Donetsk region appears to be intensifying. |
| Mr Rybak, a local councillor for the Fatherland party, was found dead near Sloviansk on Tuesday. | Mr Rybak, a local councillor for the Fatherland party, was found dead near Sloviansk on Tuesday. |
| He had gone missing recently and, according to police, his body was found in a river. | He had gone missing recently and, according to police, his body was found in a river. |
| The other man killed has not yet been publicly identified. | The other man killed has not yet been publicly identified. |
| "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. |
| 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 US had previously said it would impose further sanctions should Russia fail to fulfil commitments laid out in the 17 April Geneva accord. |
| 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 deal stipulated an immediate end to violence in eastern Ukraine and called on illegal armed groups to surrender their weapons and leave official buildings. |
| 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. |
| 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'. |