Russia Blames Ukraine for Military “Crimes”

World Today

The United States says Russia should expect new economic sanctions if it is unable to influence pro-Moscow militia to pull back from eastern and southern Ukraine.However, U-S President Barack Obama is holding open the possibility that Russia could still choose a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

Russia Blames Ukraine for Military

The United States says Russia should expect new economic sanctions if it is unable to influence pro-Moscow militia to pull back from eastern and southern Ukraine.However, U-S President Barack Obama is holding open the possibility that Russia could still choose a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

While Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says a de-escalation is still possible but he continues to call Ukrainian actions against the pro-Russian militia’s a “crime”. CCTV’s Nathan King reports.

U-S President Barack Obama touring Asia, but the crisis in Ukraine sends a long shadow – more sanctions could be on the way.

So far, the U-S-Western carrot-and-stick approach to Russia is not working and Moscow’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov railed Friday against the Ukrainian military’s use of force against its own people.

Lavrov is holding open the possibility of a pull back by pro-Russian militias if nationalistic demonstrations cease in Kiev. There are signs that the barricades — set up weeks ago in the Ukrainian capital – are now being dismantled. However, pro-Russian militias show no sign of doing so on the ground.

As night closed in, Ukraine’s interior ministry said a group of international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, were detained by pro-Russian militias in the eastern Ukrainian town of Slavyansk- negotiations for their release are ongoing.

U-S officials say that Russian jets have flown into Ukrainian airspace a number of times in the last 24 hours – Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister at the United Nations says he fears a Russian invasion – he also added that the country is asking allies for more than diplomatic support – but weapons too. The U-S has, so far, refused to provide arms to Ukraine.