KIEV/MOSCOW,
April 25 (Xinhua) -- Kiev on Thursday urged Russia to pull back its
troops from their joint border following Moscow's announcement of
military exercises in response to Kiev's "anti-terror" operation that
killed five pro-Moscow protesters.
KIEV/MOSCOW, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Kiev on Thursday urged Russia
to pull back its troops from their joint border following Moscow's
announcement of military exercises in response to Kiev's "anti-terror"
operation that killed five pro-Moscow protesters.
"We demand Russia stop interference in Ukraine's internal affairs,
end the constant threats and blackmail and withdraw its troops from the
eastern border of our country," acting Ukrainian President Alexandr
Turchynov said in a televised address.
He again accused Russia of fomenting separatist movement in Ukraine's
eastern regions, saying Moscow "supports terrorists and murderers."
Moscow had begun drills near the border with Ukraine in response to
Kiev's "anti-terror" operation, which left five pro-Moscow protesters
dead, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"The starting gun to use weapons against their own civilians has
already been fired (in Ukraine). If today this military machine is not
stopped, it will lead to a large number of dead and wounded people. Nor
is the situation around Ukraine being helped by the announced drills of
NATO troops in Poland and the Baltic States," Shoigu was quoted by
Interfax news agency as saying.
Russia has to react "to such development," the defense chief said.
Shoigu also said the air forces began forming army aviation brigades
and helicopter regiments in an unprecedented manner, adding that the
troops were receiving new and upgraded versions of aircraft.
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian Interior Ministry said five "separatist
militants" were killed during "counter-terror" actions at three
checkpoints set by a pro-Russia militia outside the city of Slavyansk.
Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday called the operation "a serious crime," warning of "consequences" if Kiev used the army against its own people.
Using armed forces in "punitive operations" will have consequences
for those who made that decision, including on the inter-state level, he
warned, adding that in that case Ukraine's authorities deserved to be
called "a junta" and "a clique."
Putin accused the Kiev government of exerting excessive force in
dealing with federalist elements in the east of the country and of
legitimizing extremist groups rather than opening up a genuine national
dialogue.
"We took part in the meeting in Geneva. We signed a series of
agreements there, according to which both sides were to disarm, abandon
public buildings, and so on," Putin said. "We shouldn't be going down
this road, but rather down the road of dialogue among all people in the
country, wherever they happen to live."
Also on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters that the United States should use its influence to make the Ukrainian authorities fulfill their commitment to the Geneva agreement on Ukraine.
On the U.S. side, Secretary of State John Kerry on the same day
accused Russia of inaction in helping to ease the tense situation in
east Ukraine, warning that the United States is ready to impose
additional sanctions in response.
The top American envoy alleged that Russia has refused to take "a
single concrete step in the right direction" for the past seven days
since the U.S., the European Union, Russia and Ukraine agreed in Geneva, Switzerland, to takes steps to de-escalate tension in east Ukraine.
He warned the "window to change course" was closing for Russia and
that the U.S. was "ready to act" by imposing more sanctions on Moscow.
The Ukrainian government on Wednesday resumed its "anti-terror"
operation in eastern regions after pro-Russia activists allegedly
kidnapped and tortured several journalists and murdered a pro-government
politician.
Kiev suspended its "anti-terror" measures last week after an
agreement with Russia, the United States and the European Union in
Geneva, which calls on all sides of the conflict to refrain from
violence.
A new wave of unrest erupted in Ukraine's east in early April, when
pro-Moscow activists seized government buildings in the cities of
Donetsk, Lugansk and Kharkov.
Kiev has repeatedly blamed Moscow for inciting the unrest and splitting Ukraine, charges denied by Russia.
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