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Viktor Yanukovych: "I will be back in Kiev"
The US secretary of state has rejected a talks offer with Russian President Vladimir Putin until Moscow engages with US proposals on Ukraine's crisis.
John Kerry told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that Moscow's military intervention in Crimea had made any negotiations extremely difficult.
US officials say there will be little to talk about if the referendum on Crimea's future goes ahead.
The vote is to be held on Sunday - Ukraine and the West say it is illegal.
In other developments on Tuesday:
"Start Quote
End QuoteThe next few days are going to be critical for any diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis, or at least one that comes any time soon. But it is not looking too hopeful."
- At a news conference in Russia, ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych describes the new Ukrainian authorities as a "gang of fascists" and says presidential elections set for 25 May are "illegal"
- Ukrainian PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk tells MPs in Kiev that Crimea's authorities are an "organised gang" backed by Russia, and urges Moscow to settle the crisis diplomatically
- The parliament in Kiev asks the US and UK - as guarantors of the security pledges given to Ukraine in 1994 - to use all measures, including military, to stop Russia's "aggression"
- Crimea's lawmakers adopt an "independence declaration". The document says the region will ask to join Russia if this is approved at the referendum
- Officials from several countries are meeting in London to discuss sanctions against Russian officials
Russia said on Monday it was drafting counter-proposals to a US plan for a negotiated solution to the crisis.
Moscow has condemned Ukraine's new Western-backed government as an unacceptable "fait accompli" - it says that Russian-leaning parts of the country have been turned into havens of lawlessness.
Meanwhile Russian forces have strengthened their control over Crimea.
Pro-Russian troops are blockading Ukrainian troops across Crimea, which is an autonomous region.
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Mark Lowen went to meet one family fleeing the lawlessness of Crimea
Moscow has officially denied that its troops are taking part in the blockades, describing the armed men with no insignia as Crimea's "self-defence" forces.
The government in Kiev - as well as the US and EU - accuse Russia of invading Ukraine, in violation of international law.
In a televised briefing with President Putin on Monday, Mr Lavrov said proposals made by Mr Kerry for a negotiated solution to the crisis are "not suitable" because they take "the situation created by the coup as a starting point", referring to the overthrow of Ukraine's pro-Russian President, Viktor Yanukovych.
Fact box: Awacs
- Airborne warning and control systems, or Awacs, are one of Nato's most sophisticated command and control aircraft
- Plane is a modified Boeing 707/320B airliner
- Contains a radar system that can detect, identify and track enemy aircraft, and direct fighters to meet them, from the ground up into the stratosphere
- Flight crew of four plus mission crew of 13-19
- Also used by the US, Britain and France
Washington says that there has been no official response yet to a set of questions Mr Kerry gave Mr Lavrov at the weekend, asking in particular whether Moscow is prepared to meet officials from the new Ukrainian government.
"The United States needs to see concrete evidence that Russia is prepared to engage on the diplomatic proposals we have made to facilitate direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia and to use international mechanisms like a contact group to deescalate the conflict," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a recent written statement.
"Kerry made clear to Foreign Minister Lavrov that he would welcome further discussions focused on how to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine if and when we see concrete evidence that Russia is prepared to engage on these proposals," Ms Psaki said.
She said "it was conceivable" that Mr Kerry might meet Mr Lavrov prior to the planned Crimean referendum but the secretary of state first wanted to ensure that Moscow would engage seriously on US diplomatic proposals.
Staff threatenedMeanwhile Nato on Monday announced that it is to deploy reconnaissance planes in Poland and Romania to monitor the Ukrainian crisis.
Nato said the surveillance flights would "enhance the alliance's situational awareness".
Cossacks in Russia
- Trace their origin from the steppes areas in the modern-day Ukraine and Russia
- Describe themselves as "free men" and famous for rebellious spirit
- Have formed "military communities" for centuries
- Russian Cossacks took part in many tsarist military campaigns
- Gradually settled in border buffer zones as Russian empire expanded
- Many fought against Bolsheviks after 1917 revolution and fell out of favour in Soviet era
- Since fall of USSR, have taken active part in post-Soviet conflicts, including Crimea crisis
- Seen as defenders of conservative traditions
- Famous for whips and colourful clothing
Last week, the organisation said it was reviewing all co-operation with Russia and stepping up its engagement with the government in Kiev.
Step-by-step, and meeting very little resistance, pro-Russian troops are dismantling Ukraine's ability to resist in Crimea, says the BBC's Christian Fraser, who is in the region.
President Putin has defended Crimea's decision to stage the referendum. "The steps taken by Crimea's legitimate authorities are based on international law," he said.
However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told him in a phone call that she considered the vote illegal.
Both EU leaders and the US have warned Moscow they would impose sanctions if Russian troops remained in Crimea.
Unrest in Ukraine erupted in November after former President Viktor Yanukovych's last-minute rejection of a landmark EU deal in favour of a bailout from Russia.
Mr Yanukovych was ousted last month, and a new government has been voted in by the Ukrainian parliament which Russia says was a "coup".
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