Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday opponents of Ukraine's Viktor Yanukovich had failed to abide by a peace deal they signed on Friday and had seized power, the ministry said.
In their second telephone conversation in two days, Lavrov told Kerry "the most important thing now is to provide for the complete fulfillment" of the agreement brokered by three top European Union diplomats, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"The Ukrainian opposition is deviating from the agreement, having in effect seized power in Kiev, refused to disarm and continued to place its bets on violence," Lavrov told Kerry, according to a ministry statement.
A senior State Department official confirmed Kerry spoke with Lavrov by telephone Sunday morning.
"Secretary Kerry expressed our hope that the Russian Federation will join with us .. to help Ukraine turn the page and emerge from this crisis stronger, united and moving forward through new elections and critically needed reforms.
"The Secretary noted our call for all sides to refrain from violence and to respect Ukraine's democratic institutions. He also underscored the United States' expectation that Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and democratic freedom of choice will be respected by all states."