18:02
3.5.2014
For his part, Lavrov told Kerry that Washington should use its influence to persuade the Kyiv "regime" to stop its military offensive against the rebels.
He called for an increased role for OSCE mediators in an effort to implement the Geneva agreement and to foster a national dialogue, primarily on constitutional reform.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said on May 3 that Lavrov and Swiss President Didier Burkhalter had "confirmed the need for the complete fulfillment" of the Geneva accord.
He called for an increased role for OSCE mediators in an effort to implement the Geneva agreement and to foster a national dialogue, primarily on constitutional reform.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said on May 3 that Lavrov and Swiss President Didier Burkhalter had "confirmed the need for the complete fulfillment" of the Geneva accord.
16:38
3.5.2014
More on Kerry's comments from our news desk:
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has welcomed the release of seven OSCE observers who were being held by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, but said Moscow needs to be more to de-escalate the crisis.
Kerry, who is traveling in Africa, said he had spoken on May 3 with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. Kerry said he told Lavrov the key is for Russia to withdraw its support for pro-Russian separatists who have seized government buildings across eastern Ukraine.
Kerry said he and Lavrov discussed the violence in the southern port city of Odesa, where at least 42 people died on May 2, and said everything possible must be done to end it.
He said they will both be in contact with Switzerland's president about a possible larger role for the OSCE in facilitating a de-escalation of the situation.
Kerry, who is traveling in Africa, said he had spoken on May 3 with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. Kerry said he told Lavrov the key is for Russia to withdraw its support for pro-Russian separatists who have seized government buildings across eastern Ukraine.
Kerry said he and Lavrov discussed the violence in the southern port city of Odesa, where at least 42 people died on May 2, and said everything possible must be done to end it.
He said they will both be in contact with Switzerland's president about a possible larger role for the OSCE in facilitating a de-escalation of the situation.
16:34
3.5.2014
BREAKING: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he spoke today about the crisis in Ukraine with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, and told him the key is for Russia to withdraw its support for eastern separatists. He said the release of the OSCE observers was a welcome "step" but that more is needed to de-escalate the situation.
16:27
3.5.2014
16:22
3.5.2014
And more OSCE reaction, this time from the president of the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly, Ranko Krivokapic.
In a statement, he welcomed the release of the observers and deplored the "senseless violence" and loss of life in Odesa.
He urged the signatories of the Geneva agreement to recommit themselves to its implementation.
In a statement, he welcomed the release of the observers and deplored the "senseless violence" and loss of life in Odesa.
He urged the signatories of the Geneva agreement to recommit themselves to its implementation.
16:12
3.5.2014
Thorbjorn Jagland, the secretary-general of the Council of Europe, spoke today to reporters on the highway from Donetsk to Slovyansk, about why the OSCE observers might have been released today:
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"I think it was because [Russian special envoy Vladimir] Lukin came and this was the only possibility and I think that tensions have been building up. There was a telephone conversation also between [German] Chancellor [Angela] Merkel and [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin. We started work on this many days ago and I asked Mr. Lukin to try."
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"I think it was because [Russian special envoy Vladimir] Lukin came and this was the only possibility and I think that tensions have been building up. There was a telephone conversation also between [German] Chancellor [Angela] Merkel and [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin. We started work on this many days ago and I asked Mr. Lukin to try."
14:48
3.5.2014
RT has video that appears to show people jumping out of the burning trade union building, after it was set on fire yesterday in Odesa.
13:59
3.5.2014
More reporting from our Ukraine Service on what's happening in Kramatorsk:
Ukraine's Interior Ministry says its forces have retaken the security service headquarters in the eastern city of Kramatorsk.
The ministry said earlier that its forces had retaken control of the city's airport and a television tower.
Kramatorsk is south of the rebel stronghold of Slovyansk.
Local television showed pictures of armored personnel carriers moving through the town.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said military operations against pro-Russian separatists had resumed at dawn on May 3.
The ministry said earlier that its forces had retaken control of the city's airport and a television tower.
Kramatorsk is south of the rebel stronghold of Slovyansk.
Local television showed pictures of armored personnel carriers moving through the town.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said military operations against pro-Russian separatists had resumed at dawn on May 3.
13:52
3.5.2014
Buses have reportedly been set on fire by separatists, who trying to block the roads.
13:49
3.5.2014
Via Reuters, more comments from Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin:
"In the last 24 hours we have received thousands of phone calls from the south-eastern regions of Ukraine. People call in despair, they ask for help, they confirm that the situation there is horrendous. Most of the people literally demand active help from Russia. Almost every call is a mini tragedy. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is being notified of all these calls."
"[Russian President Vladimir Putin] is extremely concerned with the way the situation is evolving and the way it is being interpreted by the international community, especially by some countries. Putin is deeply disturbed by the actions of the Kyiv authorities, that can only be qualified as a crime. The president expresses deep grief and compassion to those who unfortunately died or were injured as a result of the Kyiv regime's actions."
"The tragedy in Odesa where nationalist and radicals with the permission of authorities burned unarmed people alive -- and I would like to underline that people were completely unarmed -- this is the crime of the Kyiv authorities. They are not only responsible for these crimes but are also complicit in these actions."
"In the last 24 hours we have received thousands of phone calls from the south-eastern regions of Ukraine. People call in despair, they ask for help, they confirm that the situation there is horrendous. Most of the people literally demand active help from Russia. Almost every call is a mini tragedy. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is being notified of all these calls."
"[Russian President Vladimir Putin] is extremely concerned with the way the situation is evolving and the way it is being interpreted by the international community, especially by some countries. Putin is deeply disturbed by the actions of the Kyiv authorities, that can only be qualified as a crime. The president expresses deep grief and compassion to those who unfortunately died or were injured as a result of the Kyiv regime's actions."
"The tragedy in Odesa where nationalist and radicals with the permission of authorities burned unarmed people alive -- and I would like to underline that people were completely unarmed -- this is the crime of the Kyiv authorities. They are not only responsible for these crimes but are also complicit in these actions."