Options: He added that pro-Moscow insurgents would lay down their arms if Ukrainian officials cleared out the protest camp in Kiev’s Independence Square
‘We are going to protect our motherland against any invasion,’ Lubkivsky said. ‘We call on the Russians to stop this madness.’
It came shortly after Ukrainian prime minister Arseny Yatsenyuk has accused Russia of warmongering, and warned that any conflict would drag in more countries.
‘Attempts at military conflict in Ukraine will lead to a military conflict in Europe,’ Mr Yatsenyuk said in a live television broadcast.
‘The world has not yet forgotten World War Two, but Russia already wants to start World War Three.’
The Russian Foreign Minister also added to the bellicose rhetoric, accusing the West of trying to control Ukraine to serve their own ‘political ambitions’.
Sergey Lavrov played down Moscow’s military ambitions, suggesting insurgents would lay down their arms if the Ukrainian government clears out the Maidan protest camp in the capital Kiev.
It follows President Obama’s stark warning that wider economic sanctions would be imposed if Russia’s military aggression continued.
Build-up: Russian military helicopters are seen in a field outside the village of Severny near the Russian-Ukrainian
Fleet: Russian armoured vehicles drive into the city of Belgorod as tensions in the area increase
Lavrov said: ‘The West wants — and this is how it all began — to seize control of Ukraine because of their own political ambitions, not in the interests of the Ukrainian people.’
‘They (Kiev) are waging a war on their own people. This is a bloody crime, and those who pushed the army to do that will pay, I am sure, and will face justice.’
The US and key allies in Europe have agreed that Russia failed to live up to the terms of the Ukraine peace accord, and would coordinate on a response to ‘impose costs’ on Russia, according to the White House.
It followed a conference call between President Obama, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, and David Cameron.
The British Prime Minister said in a statement: ‘While they continued to hold open the door to a diplomatic resolution of this crisis, based on the Geneva agreement, the five leaders agreed that in the light of Russia’s refusal to support the process, an extension of the current targeted sanctions would need to be implemented, in conjunction with other G7 leaders and with European partners.’
Ukrainian special forces launched a second phase of their operation in the east of the country on Friday by mounting a full blockade of the rebel-held city of Slovyansk, an official on the presidential staff said.
One of its military helicopters was hit by rocket fire and exploded while on the ground at an airport near the city, the Defence Ministry said.
The chopper was on the ground when it was hit and the pilot managed to escape with minor injuries.
‘An army Mi-8 helicopter has exploded at the Kramatorsk aerodrome,’ a spokesman in Kiev said.
Preventative tactics: Ukrainian special forces prepare to deploy a strip of nails at a check-point between Donetsk and Slavyansk
Defiant: Two guards stand above the defensive traps not far from the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk
Seven people were also injured overnight at a pro-Ukrainian checkpoint near the Black Sea port of Odessa when an explosive device blew up.
A bus carrying international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe was also seized in Slovyansk by pro-Russian militants.
The group, which included 7 OSCE representatives and five members of the Ukrainian armed forces, was being held in the building of the state security agency (SBU) in the city which has been occupied by pro-Russian separatists.
Interior minister Arsen Avakov insisted every care was being taken to avoid non-combatant casualties, after Moscow warned it may act if Kiev used the army against civilians.
Standing firm: Ukrainian special forces soldiers block the way to the airport in Kramatorsk, Donetsk
President Obama added to the diplomatic row, warning sections of Russia’s economy will be sanctioned if they invade Ukraine.
He said the US and West will keep ‘arrows in our quiver’ in case the diplomatic situation between Kiev and Moscow deteriorates further.
Restrictions placed on Russia have so far not deterred Vladimir Putin as the tension along the border increases.
But the President insists his Russian counterpart ‘is not stupid’ and knows how badly heavy sanctions could impact the country’s business.
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