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Ukraine crisis: Kerry accuses Russia of 'destabilisation' Ukraine crisis: Kerry accuses Russia of 'destabilisation'
(about 7 hours later)
US Secretary of State John Kerry has accused Russia of "distraction, deception and destabilisation" in eastern Ukraine.US Secretary of State John Kerry has accused Russia of "distraction, deception and destabilisation" in eastern Ukraine.
In a strongly worded statement, he called on Moscow to help defuse the crisis there or face further sanctions.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 raids on pro-Moscow separatists 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.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.
On Thursday the Ukrainian government said that it had retaken control of the city hall in the south-eastern city of Mariupol, but BBC journalists at the scene found no evidence of Ukrainian security services having entered the building.
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.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.
But he said Russia had "put its faith in distraction, deception and destabilisation".But he said Russia had "put its faith in distraction, deception and destabilisation".
"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. "Not a single Russian official has... 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.
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".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 said US intelligence was confident that Russia was "playing an active role in destabilising eastern Ukraine" with personnel, weapons, money and operational planning".Mr Kerry said US intelligence was confident that Russia was "playing an active role in destabilising eastern Ukraine" with personnel, weapons, money and operational planning".
He added that the window for Russia to change course was closing and that if it did not choose to de-escalate, the US was ready to impose further sanctions.He added that the window for Russia to change course was closing and that if it did not choose to de-escalate, the US was ready to impose further sanctions.
Earlier, the Russian foreign ministry urged the US to use its influence with Kiev to "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 its influence with Kiev to "convince it to refrain from rash steps that will plunge Ukraine even deeper into the depths of crisis".
The Geneva agreement states that 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 morning raids by Ukrainian commandos on pro-Russian checkpoints around the town of Sloviansk left at least two separatists dead. 'Serious crime'
On hearing of the attacks, President Putin warned there would be "consequences", adding: "If Kiev has really begun to use the army against the country's population... that is a very serious crime against its own people". On Friday reports from the port city of Odessa indicated that an explosion at a checkpoint injured at least seven people.
On Wednesday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the US of "running the show" in Ukraine. On Thursday morning raids by Ukrainian commandos on pro-Russian checkpoints around the town of Sloviansk left at least two separatists dead.
On hearing of the raids, President Putin warned there would be "consequences", adding: "If Kiev has really begun to use the army against the country's population... that is a very serious crime against its own people".
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 and end what he called its "blackmail".Ukraine's acting President, Olexander Turchynov, called on Russia to pull back its troops and end what he called its "blackmail".
Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytisa said Ukrainian forces would fight the Russians if they had to. In other developments:
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'.