The United States and Nato have joined Kiev in condemning Russia’s alleged build-up of military forces in rebel-held eastern Ukraine, as the country marked one year since the start of protests that ousted its old Moscow-backed regime.
Ukraine's military said yesterday that Russia had fired artillery over the border at its troops for the first time since a September 5th ceasefire deal, signed in Minsk, that reduced but failed to halt fighting that has killed more than 4,300 people in seven months.
Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg accused Russia of sending tanks, artillery and air-defence systems into separatist-controlled parts of Luhansk and Donetsk regions "in blatant violation of international law".
"This is very serious because it is totally against the Minsk agreement and it's fuelling the conflict," Mr Stoltenberg said, urging Moscow to "pull back its troops from eastern Ukraine".
US vice-president Joe Biden visited Kiev on the anniversary of the start of huge anti-corruption and pro-western protests, triggered by the decision of Ukraine's then leaders to reject a landmark trade and political deal with the European Union.
The uprising ended in the deaths of more than 100 people in shooting around Kiev's Independence Square. Former president Viktor Yanukovich and his allies later fled to Russia in February this year.
Subsequent elections gave power to a pro-EU president and political parties in Ukraine. The new leaders belatedly signed the historic pact with Brussels, defying an angry Russia that has annexed Crimea and fomented the insurgency in the east.
After meeting Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, Mr Biden condemned the policies of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and "the threat to Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity posed by Russian aggression".
"It is simply not acceptable in the 21st century for countries to attempt to redraw borders by force in Europe or anywhere, or to intervene militarily because they don't like decisions their neighbour has made," Mr Biden said.
During a strong show of US support for an uprising Moscow claims was led by Russia-hating “fascists”, Mr Biden said Russia had not fulfilled pledges made in Minsk to secure its border with Ukraine and rein in the rebels.
“As long as that continues, Russia will face rising costs, greater isolation,” Mr Biden said. “There is a way to change all that: do what you agreed to do, Mr Putin.”
Moscow insists it is not sending arms or troops to the militants, but Mr Putin has said he will not allow Kiev to “destroy” pro-Russian elements in eastern Ukraine that oppose the country’s tilt towards the West.
Five pro-EU parties signed a preliminary deal to form Ukraine’s new government yesterday, and said they wanted the country eventually to join Nato – a move Russia bitterly opposes.
Many Ukrainians are frustrated with the pace of change after the revolution, and some booed Mr Poroshenko when he visited Independence Square yesterday but was later cheered when he announced that protesters who died during the uprising would be honoured as “heroes of Ukraine”.
