10/04/2014 10:09
US and Russia urge peaceful solution to Ukraine crisis
US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart have agreed on the need to resolve the security situation in eastern Ukraine peacefully, the BBC reported, citing officials.
It comes as pro-Russia activists continue to occupy state buildings in eastern cities of Ukraine.
The government in Kiev has warned them to enter into dialogue to resolve the crisis or face "force."
The EU, Russia, US and Ukraine are to meet next week for talks on the crisis.
Senior US diplomat Victoria Nuland said on Wednesday that expectations were not high for the talks, though it was important to keep the "diplomatic door open."
On Wednesday, Mr Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov "discussed the importance of resolving the security situation in key cities in eastern Ukraine peacefully and through dialogue and they both rejected the use of force to obtain political objectives," says US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.
Mr Kerry and Mr Lavrov spoke twice by phone on Wednesday about the rise in tensions in eastern Ukraine.
In an earlier conversation with the US secretary of state, Mr Lavrov said next week's talks should focus on "dialogue among Ukrainians" and not on bilateral relations among the participants.