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US Vice President Joe Biden in Ukraine as tensions rise Ukraine crisis: Joe Biden warns Russia faces 'isolation'
(about 2 hours later)
US Vice President Joe Biden has met senior Ukrainian leaders in Kiev amid warnings from Russia against American arms supplies to the government. US Vice President Joe Biden has warned that Russia faces "rising costs and greater isolation" if it fails to respect peace deals in Ukraine.
Mr Biden is in the Ukrainian capital on the first anniversary of mass protests which culminated in President Viktor Yanukovych relinquishing power. Mr Biden, on a visit to Ukraine, said Russia continued to violate ceasefires.
He has met President Petro Poroshenko and PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk. He was speaking after holding talks with President Petro Poroshenko.
His visit comes as tensions between Ukraine and Russia have resurfaced following a ceasefire in September. Some 4,300 people are thought to have died in eastern Ukraine's conflict since April. Russia is regularly accused of arming separatist rebels, but its officials deny the allegations.
Pro-Russian rebels have been fighting the Ukrainian army in the east of the country for much of the time since April. Mr Biden is in Kiev on the first anniversary of the start of mass protests that culminated in President Viktor Yanukovych relinquishing power.
'Breakdown of law and order' Restore control
While Ukraine has accused Russia of trying to unleash a full-scale war in the east, Russian officials have warned America that any US arms sales to the government in Kiev would represent a major change in policy and send out a "very serious signal". After stressing the danger posed to Ukraine by Russian aggression, the US vice president said there was a "different path for Russia and her proxies".
He said Russia should respect the ceasefire, restore Ukrainian control over its own borders and remove "illegal military formations, military equipment and militants".
He said Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to carry out all of those actions, but none had occurred.
In the run-up to Mr Biden's visit, Russian officials warned the US against selling arms to the government in Kiev.
American officials told the Reuters news agency that Mr Biden would announce an increase in supplies including radars and vehicles, but would not supply arms.
Figures released by the UN human rights office on Thursday showed that an average of 13 people have been killed daily in eastern Ukraine since the 5 September ceasefire came into place.Figures released by the UN human rights office on Thursday showed that an average of 13 people have been killed daily in eastern Ukraine since the 5 September ceasefire came into place.
A report by the UN described a total breakdown of law and order in the rebel-held Donetsk and Luhansk regions. It also highlighted allegations of abuses by government forces.A report by the UN described a total breakdown of law and order in the rebel-held Donetsk and Luhansk regions. It also highlighted allegations of abuses by government forces.
Russia has been widely accused of fanning the violence by covertly supplying the rebels with military aid - an accusation it denies.
The US has so far only provided non-lethal security assistance to the Ukrainian government, but it is being lobbied by politicians in Kiev to go further.
American officials told the Reuters news agency that while no weapons would be provided, Mr Biden is expected to announce an increase non-lethal military assistance, including radars and a delivery of military vehicles.
Human cost of conflict in east UkraineHuman cost of conflict in east Ukraine
Biden in Ukraine as tensions rise
4,317 deaths since April, 957 of them since the 5 September ceasefire, and 9,921 people wounded4,317 deaths since April, 957 of them since the 5 September ceasefire, and 9,921 people wounded
466,829 internally displaced persons within Ukraine466,829 internally displaced persons within Ukraine
454,339 refugees living abroad, 387,355 of them in Russia454,339 refugees living abroad, 387,355 of them in Russia
UN data from 18 NovemberUN data from 18 November
Ukraine's year of chaotic eventsUkraine's year of chaotic events
US officials described the move as an expansion of American support for Ukraine's armed forces, but not something that was likely to significantly alter the outcome of the conflict. The anniversary of the start of protests that removed President Yanukovych is being celebrated in Kiev.
Mr Biden, for his part, has told a Ukrainian newspaper that the country's newly-elected parliament needs to push through difficult reforms to develop democracy and combat corruption. But President Putin told an audience in Moscow that popular uprisings in Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan had yielded "tragic consequences".
The vice president said Russia had been trying to impose a military solution to the crisis through its proxies in eastern Ukraine. Conflict broke out in eastern Ukraine when the government in Kiev launched an operation to recapture areas seized by pro-Russian rebels, weeks after Russia had annexed Ukraine's Crimea region.
While the anniversary of the start of protests that removed President Yanukovych is being celebrated throughout much of Kiev, Russian President Vladimir Putin told an audience in Moscow on Thursday that popular uprisings this century in Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan had yielded "tragic consequences". Since the conflict began, nearly 900,000 people have fled their homes, of whom nearly 400,000 went to Russia.
Conflict broke out in eastern Ukraine when the government in Kiev launched an operation to recapture areas seized by pro-Russian rebels, after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region.
Since the conflict began, nearly 900,000 people have fled their homes, of whom nearly 400,000 went to Russia, the UN said in its report, which covers the period up to 31 October.