«On the night of Saturday, the Easter armistice was broken in Slavyansk. The attack of the armed militants from the so-called Right Sector claimed lives of innocent civilians,» the ministry said in a comment published on its website.
State-run Rossiya 24 news station reported early Sunday that a group of unidentified gunmen attacked a checkpoint controlled by pro-Russia protesters, resulting in the death of three protesters and two gunmen.
According to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, there was an armed clash between two groups of individuals at a roadblock in Slavyansk in Donetsk region. One person was killed and three others got shot wounds.
«The Russian side is enraged by the militant provocation which is an indication of the reluctance of the authorities in Kiev to bridle and disarm nationalists and extremists,» the ministry noted.
Calling the incident a tragedy, the ministry said it was surprising that the clash took place after the signing of the Geneva agreement.
Russia insisted on Ukraine’s «strict fulfillment» of its commitment and de-escalation of tensions in the southeastern region, said the ministry.
The United States, Russia, Ukraine, and the European Union concluded talks in Geneva Thursday after signing a statement, asking all sides to refrain from violence, intimidation or provocative actions as part of initial steps to restore order in the country.
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U.S. threatens more sanctions for Russia’s failure to help ease tension in Ukraine
WASHINGTON, April 18 (Xinhua) — The White House on Friday threatened additional sanctions on Russia in case of its failure to help calm down the tense situation in eastern Ukraine.
The U.S., the EU, Russia and Ukraine on Thursday brokered an agreement in Geneva to de-escalate tension in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian militants were occupying government buildings in some cities, and Ukraine’s military operation had failed to flush them out. Full story
Britain’s Hague offers «cautious welcome» to Ukraine agreement
LONDON, April 18 (Xinhua) — British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Friday offered his «cautious welcome» to the agreement reached at the four-way Geneva talks over the Ukraine crisis on Thursday.
«Yesterday’s agreement was at the top end of our expectations. We should certainly welcome it, but it should be a cautious welcome. The next steps are to see implementation, and we need to see progress quickly over the next few days,» Hague said in a statement.
Ukraine gov’t mulls constitutional reform
KIEV, April 18 (Xinhua) — Ukraine’s government is prepared to conduct constitutional changes that would grant more say to local governments on budget and tax policy and give the Russian language a special status in efforts to overcome the current crisis in the country, Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk said here Friday.
«The Ukrainian government is ready to conduct comprehensive constitutional reform that will strengthen the regions’ powers,» Yatsenyuk said in a televised address to the nation.