Kerry Urges Russia To Help Free Observers

In a phone call with his russian counterpart , Mr.Kerry expressed concern about "provocative Russian troop movements" near Ukraine's border

Pro Russia militia continue to occupy official buildings in a dozen Eastern cities , defying the government in Kiev

E.U. diplomats are to meet on Monday to discuss freash sanctions against Russia , earlier , the G7 group of economic powers also agreed to intensify sanctions against Russia over Ukraine

The West is accusing Moscow of leading a secessionist revolt in Eastern Ukraine after it annexed Crimea last month , Russia strongly denies the claims

Russia said on Saturday it would "take all possible steps" to secure the release of eight observers from (OSCE) who were seized and accused of espionage by Pro Russia gunmen

The group , believed to be military observers from Germany ,Denmark ,Poland , Sweden and the Czech Republic , are being held along with several Ukrainian army personnel in the city of Sloviansk , those those holding the observers have said they could be exchanged for prisoners held by Ukrainian forces , however Kiev says they are being used as human sheilds

The U.S. state department said Mr. Kerry "expressed continued concern that Russia's provocative troop movements on Ukraine's border , it's support for separatists and its inflammatory rhetoric are undermining stability , security and unity in Ukraine" , Mr. Kerry also urged Russian support without preconditions for the efforts of the OSCE and the government of Ukraine to liberate the inspectors and their Ukrainian guides" the statement added

For his part Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine must end military operations in the East of the country as part of urgent measures to defuse   the crisis

On Saturday , the G7 praised Ukraine for acting with restraint in dealing with the "armed bands" that occupied government buildings