Kerry calls on Russia to end Ukraine violence
US Secretary of State John Kerry has expressed his “grave concern” over escalated violence in Ukraine to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, according to a senior State Department official.
"The secretary spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov by phone earlier this morning," the State Department official said on Thursday.
"The secretary expressed grave concern about the sharp increase in separatist attacks in eastern Ukraine, and urged an immediate ceasefire and full implementation of Minsk obligations," the official added.
Washington has been accusing Russia of provoking unrest in eastern Ukraine for a long time now. It also has repeatedly called on Moscow to help implement the terms of a shaky ceasefire deal that was agreed upon by both sides in Minsk in February.
Earlier, the Ukrainian government complained that two of its soldiers had died in what it called the heaviest clashes with pro-Russian forces since signing the deal.
Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov accused the pro-Russian forces of shelling government positions across the restive region.
"In essence, shelling this intense corresponds to active hostilities," he said in a statement.
Since the ceasefire agreement, both sides have constantly accused one another of violating the truce.
The Minsk agreement introduced measures such as a ceasefire, which commenced on February 15, the pullout of heavy weapons from border areas, and constitutional reforms in Ukraine.
Despite simmering down the fighting to some extent, the agreement has failed to end the violence in the volatile region.
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