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Ukraine raids spark US-Russia war of words Ukraine crisis: Kerry accuses Russia of 'destabilisation'
(35 minutes later)
Russia and the US have accused each other of failing to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine after Kiev launched raids on pro-Moscow separatists. US Secretary of State John Kerry has accused Russia of "distraction, deception and destabilisation" in eastern Ukraine.
US Secretary of State John Kerry accused Russia of "distraction and deception" and said Moscow was "stoking instability" in eastern Ukraine. In a strongly worded statement, he called on Moscow to help defuse the crisis there or face further sanctions.
Earlier, Russia called on the US to make Kiev stop the attacks in the east. Earlier, Russia called on the US to make Kiev stop raids on pro-Moscow separatists in the east.
Russia ordered new military exercises on its border following the raids, drawing condemnation from Ukraine.Russia ordered new military exercises on its border following the raids, drawing condemnation from Ukraine.
Mr Kerry was speaking amid an increasing war of words between the US and Russia over events in eastern Ukraine.
Pro-Russian separatists are occupying key buildings in a dozen eastern Ukrainian towns, defying the central government.Pro-Russian separatists are occupying key buildings in a dozen eastern Ukrainian towns, defying the central government.
'Additional sanctions' Mr Kerry praised the interim authorities in Kiev, saying they had honoured the agreement struck in Geneva on 17 April to de-escalate the crisis.
In a strongly worded statement, Mr Kerry said Russia had not taken "a single concrete step" to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine. But he said Russia had "put its faith in distraction, deception and destabilisation".
He said Moscow was not abiding by the terms of a deal struck in Geneva earlier this month to calm the situation. "Not a single Russian official has publicly gone on television in Ukraine and called on the separatists to support the Geneva agreement, to support the stand-down, to give up their weapons and get out of the Ukrainian buildings," he said.
Mr Kerry also accused Russian media of promoting President Vladimir Putin's "fantasies" about Ukraine. He accused Russian media of promoting President Vladimir Putin's "fantasy" about events in Ukraine and said Moscow continued to "fund, co-ordinate and fuel a heavily-armed separatist movement in Donetsk".
"This is a full-throated effort to actively sabotage the democratic process through gross external intimidation that has been brought inside Ukraine," he said.
Mr Kerry added that the window for Russia to change course was closing and that if it did not choose to de-escalate - as it had agreed to in Geneva - he said the US was ready to impose further sanctions.
Earlier, the Russian foreign ministry urged the US to "use all its influence with the interim government in Kiev to bring it to reason and convince it to refrain from rash steps that will plunge Ukraine even deeper into the depths of crisis".Earlier, the Russian foreign ministry urged the US to "use all its influence with the interim government in Kiev to bring it to reason and convince it to refrain from rash steps that will plunge Ukraine even deeper into the depths of crisis".
It urged Washington to "understand the full measure of its responsibility for what is going on".It urged Washington to "understand the full measure of its responsibility for what is going on".
Both the US and Russia cited the 17 April Geneva agreement under which illegal armed groups, including those who have seized public buildings, must return home. The Geneva agreement states that illegal armed groups, including those who have seized public buildings, must return home.
The Russian foreign ministry said: "We hope the USA will at last take urgent measures in the interests of de-escalating the situation in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva statement."
The morning raids by Ukrainian commandos on pro-Russian checkpoints around the town of Sloviansk had left at least two separatists dead.The morning raids by Ukrainian commandos on pro-Russian checkpoints around the town of Sloviansk had left at least two separatists dead.
The raids were brief, with Sloviansk itself reported calm and pro-Russian militants still manning barricades in many areas.The raids were brief, with Sloviansk itself reported calm and pro-Russian militants still manning barricades in many areas.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow had been "forced to react" to the raids by ordering new military exercises.Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow had been "forced to react" to the raids by ordering new military exercises.
Mr Shoigu was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying: "If this military machine is not stopped, it will lead to greater numbers of dead and wounded."
Moscow has tens of thousands of troops along its side of the border.Moscow has tens of thousands of troops along its side of the border.
Russian television quoted the ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, as saying that Moscow would have "international-legal grounds" to deploy "peacekeepers" to Ukraine, as it had during the Russia-Georgia conflict of 2008.Russian television quoted the ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, as saying that Moscow would have "international-legal grounds" to deploy "peacekeepers" to Ukraine, as it had during the Russia-Georgia conflict of 2008.
Ukraine's acting President, Olexander Turchynov, called on Russia to pull back its troops from the border and end what he called its "blackmail", adding that Kiev would not yield to "Russian-backed terrorists".Ukraine's acting President, Olexander Turchynov, called on Russia to pull back its troops from the border and end what he called its "blackmail", adding that Kiev would not yield to "Russian-backed terrorists".
Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytisa told the Associated Press that Ukrainian forces would fight the Russians if they had to. Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytisa said Ukrainian forces would fight the Russians if they had to.
"The Ukrainian people and Ukrainian army are ready to do this. Ukraine will confront Russia. We will defend our land." UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier said he was "seriously concerned that the situation could quickly spin out of control".
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier said he was "seriously concerned that the situation could quickly spin out of control with consequences we cannot predict".
In other developments on Thursday:In other developments on Thursday:
Unrest began in Ukraine last November over whether the country should look towards Moscow or the West.Unrest began in Ukraine last November over whether the country should look towards Moscow or the West.
Last month Russia annexed Ukraine's mainly ethnic-Russian Crimea. It followed a referendum in the region that backed joining the Russian Federation but which the West and Kiev deemed illegal.Last month Russia annexed Ukraine's mainly ethnic-Russian Crimea. It followed a referendum in the region that backed joining the Russian Federation but which the West and Kiev deemed illegal.
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'.