<p>Any further Russian efforts to destabilise Ukraine will incur costs for Russia, US State Secretary John Kerry warned Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Monday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Kerry told Lavrov in a phone call that the US is watching events over the past 24 hours in eastern Ukraine with "great concern" and noted that these "do not appear to be a spontaneous set of events," Xinhua quoted State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki as saying at a press briefing.<br /><br />Noting Ukraine's assertion that the events "appeared to be a carefully orchestrated campaign with Russian support," Kerry urged Russia to "publicly disavow the activities of separatists, saboteurs and provocateurs," according to Psaki.<br /><br />Pro-Russia activists seized several government buildings in eastern Ukraine Sunday, demanding closer ties with Moscow and a referendum to give more powers to local authorities. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk accused Russia of stirring up the unrest, which was rejected by Moscow.<br /><br />"Stop blaming Russia for all of Ukraine's problems. Ukrainian people want to hear meaningful answers from official Kiev," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement posted on its website.<br /><br />Moscow warned that Ukraine should "face new crises and difficulties" unless its irresponsible politicians make the necessary reforms to pacify its eastern regions, according to the statement.<br /><br />The events in eastern Ukraine proved the need to hold a constitutional reform in the country and to federalise it, the Russian foreign ministry said.<br /><br />The White House also expressed US concerns about "escalatory moves" in Ukraine over the weekend.<br /><br />"If Russia moves into eastern Ukraine, either overtly or covertly, this would be a very serious escalation," said another White House spokesperson Jay Carney. <br /><br />Carney said there is strong evidence suggesting some of the demonstrators who have taken over government buildings in the eastern Ukrainian cities "were paid and were not local residents".<br /><br />"We are prepared to impose further sanctions on sectors of the Russian economy should the situation escalate." <br /><br />Kerry and Lavrov also discussed convening direct talks within the next 10 days between Ukraine, Russia, the US and the European Union to try to de-escalate the tension, said Psaki.</p>
<p>Any further Russian efforts to destabilise Ukraine will incur costs for Russia, US State Secretary John Kerry warned Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Monday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Kerry told Lavrov in a phone call that the US is watching events over the past 24 hours in eastern Ukraine with "great concern" and noted that these "do not appear to be a spontaneous set of events," Xinhua quoted State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki as saying at a press briefing.<br /><br />Noting Ukraine's assertion that the events "appeared to be a carefully orchestrated campaign with Russian support," Kerry urged Russia to "publicly disavow the activities of separatists, saboteurs and provocateurs," according to Psaki.<br /><br />Pro-Russia activists seized several government buildings in eastern Ukraine Sunday, demanding closer ties with Moscow and a referendum to give more powers to local authorities. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk accused Russia of stirring up the unrest, which was rejected by Moscow.<br /><br />"Stop blaming Russia for all of Ukraine's problems. Ukrainian people want to hear meaningful answers from official Kiev," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement posted on its website.<br /><br />Moscow warned that Ukraine should "face new crises and difficulties" unless its irresponsible politicians make the necessary reforms to pacify its eastern regions, according to the statement.<br /><br />The events in eastern Ukraine proved the need to hold a constitutional reform in the country and to federalise it, the Russian foreign ministry said.<br /><br />The White House also expressed US concerns about "escalatory moves" in Ukraine over the weekend.<br /><br />"If Russia moves into eastern Ukraine, either overtly or covertly, this would be a very serious escalation," said another White House spokesperson Jay Carney. <br /><br />Carney said there is strong evidence suggesting some of the demonstrators who have taken over government buildings in the eastern Ukrainian cities "were paid and were not local residents".<br /><br />"We are prepared to impose further sanctions on sectors of the Russian economy should the situation escalate." <br /><br />Kerry and Lavrov also discussed convening direct talks within the next 10 days between Ukraine, Russia, the US and the European Union to try to de-escalate the tension, said Psaki.</p>