介绍:
Ukrainian crisis continues to escalate amid barbs trading of rival sides
Anchor:
Ukrainian authorities are calling on Russia to pull back its troops from their shared border.
The call comes in response to Moscow's announcement of military exercises in the region.
CRI's Xie Zhao has more.
Reporter:
The Russian side is conducting the exercises as a response to Kiev's currennt "anti-terror" operations in eastern Ukraine.
In a televised address, interim Ukrainian President Alexandr Turchynov says Russia is "coordinating and openly supporting terrorist killers" in eastern Ukraine.
"I want to declare that we will not retreat when terrorist danger exists and will continue to take measures aimed at defending the lives of our citizens. We demand that the Russian Federation stop interfering in the internal affairs of Ukraine, stop permanent threats and blackmail and move troops back from the eastern border of Ukraine."
The Ukranian crackdown on pro-Russian activists has left at least 5 dead.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is describing the operation as "a serious crime."
He's also warning of -quote- "consequences" if Kiev uses the army against its own people.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is calling on Washington to use its influence over the Ukrainian government to settle the situation.
"I have no doubt and I have already said that our US partners can influence the people who pronounced themselves as the government in Kiev. And the counter-terrorist operation was announced just after the unadvertised visit of the CIA director to Kiev, and the pause for Easter, which was announced in Kiev, was broken after the visit of the US Vice President Joe Biden (to Kiev)."
On the U.S. side, Secretary of State John Kerry is accusing Russia of inaction in eastern Ukraine.
Kerry says the United States is ready to impose additional sanctions on Russia in response.
"So I will say it again, the window to change course is closing. President Putin and Russia face a choice. If Russia chooses a path of deescalation, the international community will welcome it, if Russia does not, the world will make sure the cost to Russia will only grow and as President Obama reiterated earlier we are ready to act."
Kerry is accusing Russia of not taking a single concrete step in the right direction in the past week since the U.S., the European Union, Russia and Ukraine agreed in Geneva to takes action to de-escalate the tensions in eastern Ukraine.
The current unrest erupted in Ukraine's east in early April when pro-Moscow activists seized government buildings in Ukraine's Donestk region.
Kiev has repeatedly blamed Moscow for inciting the unrest and splitting Ukraine.
Russia has denied the allegations.
For CRI, This is Xie Zhao.
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