Russia accuses West of Ukraine plot must visit

Russia has denied involvement in the seizures of official buildings by pro-Russians in eastern Ukraine Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the West of wanting to "seize" Ukraine, amid escalating rhetoric between Russia and the US.

The US says Russia has failed to live up to an agreement to end the crisis struck in Geneva last week.

American officials say Russia is behind unrest in eastern Ukrainian cities.

Ukraine has warned it will consider any crossing into its territory by Russian troops stationed on the border as a "military invasion".

"We do not accept false declarations about humanitarian action," the chief of staff of acting President Olexander Turchynov told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

"We will destroy the attackers."

In a separate development, Russia's foreign currency ratings have been cut by the credit ratings agency Standard & Poor to one notch above "junk" status.

The agency warned that further downgrades were possible if the West imposed tighter sanctions against Moscow.

'Bloody crime'

Pro-Russian separatists have been occupying key buildings in a dozen eastern Ukrainian towns, defying the central government.

A bride passes by masked pro-Russian activist near a barricade outside a government building in the eastern city of Donetsk Pro-Russian separatists are refurbishing old rifles at a makeshift camp in the town of Sloviansk

Ukraine has launched military raids to regain the buildings, which Mr Lavrov described as a "bloody crime".

"The West... wants to seize Ukraine so to speak, being solely motivated by its own geopolitical ambitions and not the interests of the Ukrainian people," Mr Lavrov said, according to AFP.

"The might of US propaganda" was aimed "at smearing Russia, smearing those who protest against the illegal actions of the [Kiev] authorities," he went on.

In response to 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.

Natalia Antelava investigates who entered Mariupol's city council building

Russia has ordered new military exercises on its border following the Ukrainian military raids, drawing condemnation from Kiev.

Moscow has tens of thousands of troops along its side of the border and on Friday acting Ukrainian Defence Minister Mikhail Koval said they had come within a kilometre 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.

There have also been reports from the port city of Odessa indicating that an explosion at a checkpoint injured at least seven people.

Russia 'fantasy'

US President Barack Obama said he would talk to some key European leaders on Friday evening to make sure they shared his "assessment in terms of what has happened since the Geneva talks" held on 17 April.

Continue reading the main story Steve Rosenberg BBC News, Donetsk

These are strong words from John Kerry. But they're unlikely to convince the Kremlin to change its position on Ukraine.

Experience shows that President Putin doesn't respond well to Western criticism. He believes the United States and the EU are hypocritical, that the West is the sponsor of what Moscow sees as an illegitimate government in Kiev. He suspects Western governments are plotting to undermine Russia's national interests.

If you analyse the tough language coming out of Moscow in recent days and look at the way this conflict is being portrayed by Russian TV channels - as Kiev sending in troops against innocent civilians - there is no sign that the Kremlin is prepared to change its view.

If that is the case, then Russian military intervention in eastern Ukraine on the pretext of protecting Russians and Russian-speakers there remains a distinct possibility.

On Thursday US Secretary of State John Kerry issued a strongly worded statement, in which he called on Moscow to help defuse the crisis or face further sanctions.

Mr Kerry praised the interim authorities in Kiev, saying they had honoured the agreement struck in Geneva to de-escalate the crisis.

But he said Russia had "put its faith in distraction, deception and destabilisation" and said it had failed to call for separatists to leave official buildings and give up their arms as stipulated by the Geneva agreement.

He also accused Russian media of promoting President Vladimir Putin's "fantasy" about events in Ukraine.

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".

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. This 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'.

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U.S. threatens further sanctions in Russia must visit

Moscow denied being behind the protests and by per Russia militant the US Secretary of State has warned more sanctions against Russia the seizures of buildings, if it is not to defuse tension in the Ukraine.

In a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov concern John Kerry "deep about the lack of positive Russian steps".

Russia accused Kiev Guide for the collapse of last week Heskem.

President of Ukraine ordered before the relaunch of the military operations against pro-Russian fighters in the East of the country.

It came as President Oleksandr Turchynov said, that two men - including municipal politician Vladimir Rybak - after "brutally tortured" have been found dead.

"The terrorists, who effectively took the entire region Donetsk hostage now gone too far," he said.

Politician Vladimir Rybak disappeared after filmed a building of pro-Russian activists tried to access seized, as Daniel Sandford reports

Separatists in the Eastern Ukraine, throw back with undercover military Russia the United States and the West, where public buildings in at least nine towns and cities are occupied. Russia denied involvement.

In other developments:

Some 150 American troops come in Poland, which is the first part of a 600-strong deployment, saying Washington supposedly American journalist Simon Ostrovsky a demonstration of strength for the NATO allies in the RegionPro Russian fighter in Slavyansk, works hold for Vice news. "Lack of progress"

In his conversation with Mr Lavrov on Tuesday Mr Kerry "urged Russia rhetoric, disarm sound engage diplomatically in the East... and issue public statements for those buildings," after a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Secretary Kerry also confirms that the lack of measurable progress in the implementation of the Geneva agreement will lead reinforced sanctions against Russia," the official said.

The warning came after US Vice President Joe Biden met Ukrainian new leaders in Kiev and Russia calls to "Stop talking and start to act" to defuse the crisis in the Ukraine.

A visit to Kiev, Mr Biden warned on Russia to "provocative behavior" would result in "greater isolation" armed masked a volley at the funeral for one of the three per Russia fired fighters killed at a checkpoint on Sunday

The United States m (£30 m) for the political is an additional $50 and helping economic reforms in Ukraine, including $11 m to run the presidential election on May 25 due.

Read the main story Steve Rosenberg BBC News, Slavyansk

In the Church of the Holy Spirit in the Centre of Slavyansk, an Orthodox priest called prayers for the dead. The bodies of three pro-Russian activists, shot dead at a temporary checkpoint on Easter Sunday, lay in open coffins.

When the coffins from the Church, the crowd shouted outside "Fame the heroes of Donbass!" over and over again - Donbass is the name for the Don basin. Church bells rang out.

The people who I talked to here are convinced that it was a Ukrainian nationalist, which carried on the Sunday attack. A woman told me she was proud, Ukrainian, but this instability and violence urged people here want closer relations with Russia.

Seasoned US Washington sent 600 troops to participate in NATO exercises in the Baltic States and Poland.

A Defense Department spokesman said the decision was designed to a strong commitment to the Alliance as events unfolded in the Ukraine show.

Open coffins

In the meantime the burials of three men took place shot manned on Sunday during a RAID on a checkpoint, with pro-Russian separatists near the town of Slavyansk.

The local separatists said that the attack by the ultra-nationalist right sector Kiev called fighters but it was conducted a "provocation" staged by Russian special forces.

The bodies of those killed lay in open coffins at the funeral in the Church of the Holy Spirit in the Centre of Slavyansk.

The BBCs Daniel Sandford reports about the "uncontrolled sorrow" at the funerals of pro-Russian activists in Slavyansk

Announcing the decision to reactivate the military operation in the East of Ukraine, Mr Turchynov said in a statement: "I should call the security authorities which continue and implementation of successful anti-terror measures, to the defense of Ukrainian citizens living in the East of Ukraine against terrorists."

Kiev military operation that will end occupation of buildings began on April 16 but was suspended over the Easter period.

Mr Rybak, whose Leiche was found on Tuesday near the town of Slavyansk, was described as a municipal councilor for the fatherland party in the nearby town of Horlivka. The other man was killed is still not publicly identified.

Mr Rybak had missed recently, and according to the police, his body was found in a river.

"This crime with the full support and acquiescence of the Russian Federation are committed," said Mr Turchynov.

Public buildings in at least nine cities and towns remain occupied

In another incident a Ukrainian military reconnaissance aircraft by small arms fire over Eastern Ukraine on Tuesday met the Ministry of defence said.

The plane, an Antonov to-30, suffered minor damage on Slavyansk as it was by automatic gunfire, target according to the Ministry. No one was injured and the plane safely back to Kiev.

The United States have previous said it plans, Russia should not be further sanctions, to meet its Geneva obligations.

17 April Geneva Accord in accordance with an immediate end to the violence in the East of Ukraine and urges the illegal armed groups surrender their weapons and public buildings.

But Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the Russian Parliament on Tuesday, the Russia capable of, to "minimize the impact" further sanctions.

Ukraine has in November last year in turmoil since when Kiev was gripped by protests, whether the country should lean more towards Russia or Europe.

Are you in the Eastern Ukraine? How has you concerned the unrest? You can email your experiences at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, with the subject line 'Ukraine'.

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U.S. demands Russia action for the Ukraine must visit

US Vice-President Joe Biden has said Russia must "stop talking and start acting" to defuse the Ukraine crisis.Hey what speaking during a joint press conference in Kiev with interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.Mr Biden warned Russia that further "provocative behaviour" would lead to "greater isolation" and urged Moscow to end its alleged support for pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the funerals took place for three men shot on Sunday.

Funerals for those killed at a pro-Russian checkpoint near Sloviansk took place on Tuesday continue reading the main story Steve Rosenberg BBC News, Sloviansk

At the Church of the Holy Spirit in the centre of Sloviansk, Orthodox priest chanted prayers for the dead. The bodies of three pro-Russian activists, shot dead at a makeshift checkpoint on Easter Sunday, lay in open coffins.

When the coffins were carried out of the church, the crowd outside shouted "Glory to the Heroes of the Donbass!" over and over again - Donbass being the name for the Don River basin. Church bells rang out.

The people I've been speaking to here are convinced that it what Ukrainian ultra-nationalists who carried out Sunday's attack. One woman told me she what proud to be Ukrainian, but that instability and violence of which pushing people here to want closer ties to Russia.

They were killed during a raid on a checkpoint manned by pro-Russian separatists near the town of Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine.

The circumstances remain unclear. The local separatists said the attack which carried out by ultra-nationalist right sector militants. Kiev called it a "provocation" staged by Russian special forces.

The bodies of those killed lay in open coffins at the funeral ceremony at the Church of the Holy Spirit in the centre of Sloviansk. An Orthodox priest chanted prayers for the dead.

'Endemic' corruption

Earlier in remark to Ukrainian MPs, Mr Biden said the US stood with Ukraine's new leaders against "humiliating threats" - on parameter reference to Russia.

The vice president called on Moscow to urge the pro-Russian separatists to leave the buildings they are occupying in eastern Ukraine, and to abandon checkpoints.

Mr Biden said Ukraine so faced "very daunting problem" and stressed the need for the new authorities to tackle corruption, which he described as "endemic in your system".

He told members of parliament: "The opportunity to generate a united Ukraine, getting it right is within your grasp."

Mr. Biden announced the US would provide at additional $50 m to help Ukraine's government with political and economic reforms.

This includes $11 m to help run the presidential election due on 25 May. On additional $8 m is being provided for non-lethal military assistance.

The presidential election is considered a crucial step in ending the country's deepest political crisis since its independence in 1991.

The BBC's Natalia Antelava of visited a protest camp in Luhansk

Flowers lie on the road near the site of Sunday's fatal shooting pro-Russian of hellbent are still least holding official buildings in at nine town and cities in the Donetsk region 'Tatars banned'

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a decree to rehabilitate Crimea's Muslim Tatars and other ethnic minorities who suffered during the rule of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

After a last month referendum in Crimea, the territory what is incorporated into Russia in a move strongly criticised internationally.

However, on Tuesday the Tatar assembly said the leader of the community, Mustafa Dzhemilev, had been banned from returning to the annexed territory for five years.

Mr. Dzhemilev what reportedly informed of the ban by Russian border guards as he crossed from Crimea to mainland Ukraine. Russia has given no official explanation.

His deputy so what barred, according to the Tatar assembly. The 300,000-strong Tatar community - which makes up 15% of Crimea's population - opposed the peninsula's takeover by Russia.

'Men in masks'

On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the Kiev authorities of breaking last week's Geneva accord on resolving the Ukraine crisis.

And in a phone conversation between the US secretary of state, and Russia's foreign minister, so on Monday, both sides blamed the other over the crisis.

The US has drawn up plan for Ford forth economic sanctions should Russia fail to make good on its Geneva commitments.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told the Russian parliament on Tuesday that Russia would be able to "Mini Mise the consequences" of any further sanctions.

The 17 April Geneva accord which agreed at talks between Russia, Ukraine, the EU and U.S. it demanded on immediate end to violence in eastern Ukraine and called on illegal armed groups to surrender their weapons and leave official buildings.

Sergei Lavrov: "all signs show that Kiev can t, and maybe doesn't want to, control the extremists who continue to call the shots"

Pro-Russian of hellbent are still holding official buildings in at least nine towns and cities in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.

Mr. Biden again accused Russia of supporting "men in masks in unmarked uniforms" who the U.S. of says are directing pro-Russian activity in the East.

Moscow denies being behind the protests and seizures of buildings in the east.

Ukraine says photos released by the Ukrainian government and distributed by the U.S. State Department show Russian soldiers among hellbent holding official buildings in eastern Ukraine.

Photos released by the Ukrainian government purport to show a soldier, circled in red, in both Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, and in a photo (centre) showing a group in the Russian special forces

There what no immediate response to the pictures from the Russian government.

Ukraine has been in turmoil since last November, when Kiev what gripped by protest against President Viktor Yanukovych over his rejection of economic pact with the EU. Hey what toppled in February and fled to Russia.

Russia's annexation of Crimea followed soon afterwards.

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Russia says Kiev 'breaking accord' must visit

 21 April 2014 Last updated at 10:11  Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the Kiev authorities of breaking last week's Geneva accord on resolving the Ukraine crisis.

He said the Kiev government - not recognised by Moscow - had not moved to disarm illegal groups, especially the ultra-nationalist Right Sector.

"Extremists are calling the tune," he alleged, condemning a fatal shooting near Sloviansk, in eastern Ukraine.

He also condemned the continuing Maidan street protests in Kiev.

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Russia vows no Ukraine invasion/must visit

 29 March 2014 Last updated at 11:55 Russian troops are already in full control of Crimea Moscow has no intention of sending troops into Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.

His comments came after the US and Russian presidents discussed a possible diplomatic solution to the crisis.

The US-backed plan calls for Russia to halt to its military build-up on the border with Ukraine and withdraw its troops to base in Crimea.

Meanwhile Ukrainian boxer and opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko has pulled out of the race for president.

He announced on Saturday that he was supporting billionaire Petro Poroshenko in elections due in May. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has also said she will stand.

Announcing his withdrawal from the race, Mr Klitschko said: "The only chance of winning is to nominate one candidate from the democratic forces."

'Diplomatic means'

In an interview with state TV channel Rossiya 1 on Saturday, Mr Lavrov said: "We have absolutely no intention of - or interest in - crossing Ukraine's borders."

Continue reading the main story Daniel Sandford BBC News, Moscow

If - as the White House insists - President Vladimir Putin was the one who initiated the phone call, then that is clearly a promising sign. It may mean that he thinks the military phase is over, at least for now, and Russia's best interests lie in diplomacy.

But the Kremlin's account of the phone call suggests there is some hard bargaining ahead. President Putin has introduced into the conversation the isolation of the breakaway Trans-Dniester region of Moldova. This should have nothing to do with Ukraine. But it has everything to do with Russia trying to strengthen its control in former Soviet countries.

He has also introduced the idea of international co-operation to deal with what Russia insists are "rampant extremists" threatening people and institutions. After the Trojan horse-like operation in Crimea, the government in Kiev will be very wary of any Russian involvement in Ukraine's internal affairs.

He added that Russia was ready to protect "the rights of Russians and Russian-speaking people in Ukraine, using all available political, diplomatic and legal means".

After the interview was broadcast, it emerged Mr Lavrov had spoken by phone to US Secretary of State John Kerry, in a conversation that Russian officials said was initiated by the US.

That call followed an hour-long phone discussion late on Friday between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama. Mr Putin had contacted President Obama, according to US officials.

"President Obama underscored to President Putin that the United States continues to support a diplomatic path... with the aim of de-escalation of the crisis," the White House said in a statement.

"President Obama made clear that this remains possible only if Russia pulls back its troops and does not take any steps to further violate Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty."

The two leaders agreed that Mr Lavrov and Mr Kerry would meet soon to discuss the next steps.

The US proposal, developed in consultation with Ukraine and other European countries, includes halting the military build-up near Ukraine's border, the deployment of international monitors in Crimea to protect the rights of Russian speakers, and the return of Russian troops there to their bases.

The Kremlin said that the Russian president had drawn Mr Obama's attention to "the continued rampage of extremists" in Kiev and various regions of Ukraine.

It said these individuals were "committing acts of intimidation towards peaceful residents, government authorities and law enforcement agencies... with impunity".

President Putin welcomed military leaders to the Kremlin on Friday

Mr Putin suggested examining possible steps the global community could take to help stabilise the situation, the Kremlin statement said.

Russia's reported troop movements near Ukraine's eastern border - described by Nato as a "huge military build-up" - has triggered fears that Mr Putin's interest in Ukraine is not limited to Crimea.

The BBC's North America Editor, Mark Mardell, said Friday night's phone call could indicate tentative progress towards a diplomatic solution - just when fears were growing in the West that Russia could be about to stage an invasion of eastern Ukraine.

The US and its allies have imposed sanctions on members of Mr Putin's inner circle, and threatened to take action to target the Russian economy, in response to Moscow's actions in Crimea.

Moscow formally annexed Crimea after the predominantly ethnic Russian region held a referendum which backed joining Russia.

Kiev and the West condemned the vote as "illegal".

The move followed months of street protests, which led to the overthrow of pro-Kremlin Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in February.

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