Putin: Ukraine’s Escalation Puts it on Edge of Civil War

Local Editor

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that "he sharp escalation of the Ukraine crisis virtually puts the country on the brink of civil war."

Putin's warning came during a telephone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Putin and Merkel discussed the upcoming Ukrainian crisis talks between Russia, Ukraine, the EU and the US, scheduled to be held on Thursday in Geneva.
Merkel's press office noted that, despite some differences of opinion, the upcoming talks were the main focus of the telephone conversation.

"While there were differences in the interpretation of current events, preparations for the planned meeting in Geneva...were the focus of the talks," Merkel's office said in a statement.
Putin meanwhile expressed hope that the Geneva talks will help to de-escalate the situation, and return it to peaceful cooperation.

The Russian president also reiterated the importance of stabilizing the Ukrainian economy, and ensuring the supply and transportation of Russian natural gas to Europe.
On Tuesday, Moscow urged international partners to condemn Kiev's recent "anti-constitutional" actions in southeastern Ukraine, which it believes may lead to catastrophe.
"We are deeply concerned over the military operation launched by the Ukrainian special forces with support by the army. There have already been victims," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

This comes as Ukrainian troops have seized an airfield in the city of Kramatorsk as part of a security operation against anti-government activists in the eastern part of the country. Activists claimed several people were wounded.
Ukrainian troops approached the military airfield in armored personnel carriers between the eastern cities of Kramatorsk and Slavyansk earlier on Tuesday, the people's militia located at the airfield told RIA Novosti over the phone.

"They started negotiating with the people's militia, which is in control of the airfield. The shooting started unexpectedly. There are injured among the people's militia, and there may be deaths," they said.

The activists who controlled the base said they were forced to retreat. However, the city is still under the control of the people's militia, as they have blocked the entrance to Kramatorsk and are ready to defend the city, the activists added.
"We were forced out of the airfield, but the city itself is under our control, we won't allow [the Ukrainian troops] to enter," one of the activists told Interfax.

"There are about 60 units of armored vehicles. They have been preparing for several days, and now they started to storm [the airfield]. The protesters blocked their way, they started shooting, there are wounded. Our people retreated. There are about 15 tanks, the other units are armored personnel vehicles," another member of the people's militia told RIA Novosti.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team