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US to send 600 soldiers to region around Ukraine

Updated 12.55 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said Russia will respond if its interes...
Newstalk
Newstalk

09.56 23 Apr 2014


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US to send 600 soldiers to reg...

US to send 600 soldiers to region around Ukraine

Newstalk
Newstalk

09.56 23 Apr 2014


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Updated 12.55

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said Russia will respond if its interests in Ukraine are attacked.

America has said it will send 600 soldiers to Poland and three neighbouring countries to conduct 'boots on the ground' exercises.

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Speaking to Russian state TV, Mr Lavrov also accused the US of "running the show" in Ukraine.

He claimed it was "quite telling" that Kiev had re-launched its "anti-terrorist" operation during a visit by US Vice-President Joe Biden.

Kiev and the West say Moscow commands gunmen in Ukraine - a charge denied by Russia.

Torture accusations

It comes as Ukraine's acting President has called for new anti-terrorist measures to protect citizens of his country after "brutally tortured" bodies were found near Slavyansk.

Oleksandr Turchynov said the body of Volodymyr Rybak, a member of Turchynov's Batkivshchyna party, was one of two found showing signs of torture.

Mr Rybak was deputy head of Horlivka city council. Ukrainian news website vesti.ua said a body thought to be his was found beside a river about 60km from the city.

The dead man was hard to identify, the website said, as it had been in water for several days. Mr Rybak went missing on April 17.

In a statement, Mr Turchynov said: "I call on the security agencies to relaunch and carry out effective anti-terrorist measures, with the aim of protecting Ukrainian citizens living in eastern Ukraine from terrorists."

A number of political leaders and journalists are reported to have been detained by pro-Russia militia who are running many cities in eastern Ukraine.

The separatists are demanding the right to hold a referendum on the future of eastern Ukraine, similar to that which prompted the breakaway of Crimea in March.

US pledges support

Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Kiev on Tuesday to reiterate US support for a unified Ukraine during a meeting with MPs.

As he did so, the US said it will be sending about 600 troops to Poland and the three Baltic states to take part in exercises.

US news agency ABC News has reported on the story:


ABC US News | ABC Business News

Mr Biden announced new support for Kiev’s government on energy and economic reforms and warned Russia against further provocative action.

Under an agreement signed by the US, the European Union, Russia and Ukraine in Geneva last week, the separatists were supposed to disarm and relinquish control of the towns.

The US has threatened further sanctions against Russia if the separatists - who are Russian speaking and are allegedly backed by Moscow - do not meet the agreement's conditions.

Ukrainian military plane hit

Not long after he made his speech, a Ukrainian military surveillance plane flying over Slavyansk, in eastern Ukraine, was hit by small arms fire, forcing it to make an emergency landing.

On Easter Sunday, at least three people were killed at a checkpoint manned by armed separatists, with Russia blaming Ukrainian nationalist group Right Sector.

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe has sent 100 mediators to Ukraine, they have expressed deep concerns about the latest developments.


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