Ukraine's use of force to harm peace talks: Russia

Ukrainian authorities' possible use of force in the country’s eastern regions will “undermine the potential for cooperation ... including the holding of planned four-party talks in Geneva,” Sergei Lavrov said in a phone conversation with his US counterpart John Kerry on Saturday.
 
He also noted that Kiev has shown inability to take responsibility for the fate of Ukraine.
 
Moscow and Kiev are supposed to participate in the four-party peace talks with the US and the EU in Geneva on April 17. The meeting is aimed at brokering a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine.
 
The Ukrainian crisis began last November when the country’s then president, Viktor Yanukovych, refrained from signing an Association Agreement with the EU in favor of closer ties with Russia.
 
The refusal triggered months of unrest and clashes with the police, which finally led to the ouster of Yanukovych on February 23. He then travelled to Russia, where he was given sanctuary.
 
On March 17, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and formally applied to become part of Russia. This came on the heels of a referendum a day earlier, in which 96.8 percent of Crimeans voted for reunion with Russia.
 
Since then, main cities in eastern and southern Ukraine have been seeking their own autonomy.
 
Protesters in these areas have taken control over government buildings in recent days and raised the Russian flag.