The United States is looking for a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine, Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday, while stressing Washington would "not close our eyes" to Russian troops crossing the border.
Kerry was speaking in Kiev after a meeting with Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko. Also in the capital were the leaders of Germany and France, who announced a peace plan proposal that they said they would take to Moscow on Friday.
More than 5,000 people have died in fighting between Ukraine government troops and pro-Russia rebels.
Kerry was not part of the Franco-German plan but said that it "underscores that, together, the United States, France, Germany and the rest of our international partners stand united with Ukraine in calling on Russia to take the steps that I just outlined," according to The Associated Press.
"We are not seeking a confrontation with Russia. No-one is," Kerry added. "We are very hopeful that Russia will take advantage of our broad-based, uniform acceptance of the notion that there is a diplomatic solution staring everybody in the face. That is what we want."
Kerry said that the U.S. would "not close our eyes" to Russian tanks and troops crossing the border. Russia has consistently rejected accusations that it has supplied troops to the pro-Russian rebellion in eastern Ukraine.
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Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.