Ukraine Crisis: U.S. Warns Russia Over 'Destabilisation'

The U.S. has voiced "great concern" about heightened tension in Eastern Ukraine after Pro Russia demonstrators seized government buildings in three cities

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a phone call that any Russian efforts at destabilisation "would incur further costs for Russia" , they discussed the possibility of direct talks within the next ten days

Ukraine is sending security officials to Donetsk , Luhansk and Kharkiv , after buildings there were stormed , rebels occupying Donetsk's regional Government building declared a "people's republic" on Monday and called for a refrendum on secession from Ukraine to be held by May 11th

Moscow now has thousands of troops massed along it's border with Eastern Ukraine , although it insists it has no intention of invading Ukraine , it says it reserves the right to defend ethnic Russians in the Country

Russia ia refusing to recognize the new authorities in Kiev who took power after Pro Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February

U.S. State department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that in the telephone call , Mr. Kerry called on Russia to publicly disavow the activities of separatists , saboteurs and provocateurs in Ukraine , she said Mr. Kerry noted that the actions in Eastern Ukraine "do   not   appear to be spontaneous set of events" he made clear that any further Russian efforts to destabilise Ukraine will incur further costs for Russia"

Russia's Foreign ministry said it was " closely watching" events in Eastern Ukraine , "particularly in Donetsk , Luhansk and Kharkiv regions", it reiterated Moscow's demands for the creation of a Federal Ukraine with broader powers for provinces , " stop pointing to Russia , blaiming it for all of the troubles of todays Ukraine " the statement said