Ukraine truce takes hold but U.S. says Russia ‘destabilsing’ the country

A UN-backed ceasefire showed signs of finally taking hold in Ukraine, even as the United States accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of destabilising the country through land grabs. Wednesday was the first day since the truce took effect 10 days ago that no deaths were reported on the front, but the relative peace was met by fresh diplomatic sparring between Washington and Moscow. Addressing U.S. lawmakers, Secretary of State John Kerry said Russia and pro-Moscow rebels had failed to meet the terms of the ceasefire.

[Putin had put in place policies that] violate all the international norms with respect to territory and behaviour. He has empowered, encouraged, and facilitated directly land grabs in order to try to destabilise Ukraine itself.

U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry

Top U.S. officials have lashed Putin and his ministers in recent days, with Kerry on Tuesday directly accusing Russian leaders of lying “to my face” over the conflict. Washington has repeatedly rejected Moscow’s denials about giving military backing to the separatists in east Ukraine. Russia has in turn warned it could cut off gas supplies to Ukraine within days - and, by extension, to parts of the European Union.

To date, neither Russia nor the forces it is supporting have come close to complying with their commitments.

John Kerry

World Ukraine cease-fire