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Ukraine crisis: Kerry accuses Russia of 'destabilisation' Ukraine crisis: Kerry accuses Russia of 'destabilisation'
(about 3 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. Moscow has tens of thousands of troops along its side of the border and on Friday the acting Ukrainian Defence Minister Mikhail Koval told the Interfax-Ukraine agency that they had come within a kilometre of the border.
The news comes 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" and said they had failed to call for separatists to leave official buildings and give up their arms as stipulated by the Geneva agreement.
"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 also accused Russian media of promoting President Vladimir Putin's "fantasy" about events in 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".
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 US was ready to impose further sanctions if Russia did not change course.
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". 'World War Three'
The Geneva agreement states that illegal armed groups, including those who have seized public buildings, must return home. On Friday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Ukrainian operation against separatists in the east of the country was a "bloody crime" for which the government in Kiev would "face justice".
'Serious crime' He repeated the accusation made previously by Moscow that Ukraine was waging a war 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. Soon after Mr Lavrov's comments, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Russia wanted to "start World War Three" by occupying Ukraine "militarily and politically" and by creating a conflict that would spread to the rest of Europe.
Also on Friday, reports from the port city of Odessa indicated that an explosion at a checkpoint injured at least seven people.
On Thursday morning raids by Ukrainian commandos on pro-Russian checkpoints around the town of Sloviansk left at least two separatists dead.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". Also on Friday, reports from the port city of Odessa indicated that an explosion at a checkpoint injured at least seven people.
Moscow has tens of thousands of troops along its side of the border. On Thursday morning raids by Ukrainian commandos on pro-Russian checkpoints around the town of Sloviansk left at least two separatists dead.
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".
In other developments:In other developments:
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'.