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Ukraine Blames Russian Agents for Kiev Carnage

Ukraine's new Western-backed leaders on Thursday blamed Russian agents and the ousted pro-Kremlin president for organizing two days of carnage in Kiev that killed nearly 90 supporters of closer EU ties.

The explosive allegation were leveled only moments after Russia lashed out at NATO for building up the defenses of ex-Soviet nations and brandished the threat of further hikes in the price Ukraine must pay for gas after ousting its Kremlin-backed leaders.

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Latvia Postpones Russian Patriarch's Visit amid Ukraine Crisis

Latvia has asked the head of the Russian Orthodox church, Patriarch Kirill, to postpone a planned visit amid tension between Russia and the Baltic states over Moscow's actions in Ukraine.

A letter from Latvian President Andris Berzins requesting that the May visit be put off indefinitely was handed to Kirill's representatives in Moscow on Thursday.

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Lavrov: Russian Forces to Quit Ukrainian Border after Exercises

Russian troops deployed close to the Ukrainian border will return to base after completing their exercises, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.

"After finishing training in the Rostov region (bordering Ukraine), one of the battalions that took part has already returned to base in the Samara region."

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NATO in 'Grave Concern' over Russia Troop Buildup

NATO warned on Wednesday that Russia's military presence on the flashpoint border with Ukraine was of "grave concern" and that Moscow's forces could reach military objectives in just days.

General Philip Breedlove, NATO's top commander, told the Wall Street Journal that Russian troops could invade vast portions of Ukrainian territory in three days to five days.

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Yanukovych Calls Crimea Annexation 'a Pain and a Tragedy'

Deposed Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych said on Wednesday he did not approve of Crimea leaving Ukraine, but blamed the new authorities in Kiev for the region's annexation by Russia.

"If this had happened under me, I would have tried not to let it happen," he said in an interview with Russian television, calling the events in Crimea "a pain and a tragedy that is very hard to agree with".

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Crimea's Tatars Considering Their Own Referendum

Crimea's Tatars are considering the possibility of a vote on increased autonomy, a local leader has said, a move likely to deepen the crisis on the Russian-controlled peninsula.

The minority group's assembly, known as the Mejlis, has created a special group to look into the possibility of holding a "referendum within one ethnic group", said its leader Refat Chubarov in a statement released late on Tuesday.

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Ukraine Moves to Grant More Power to Regions

Crisis-hit Ukraine took the first step Wednesday toward granting more powers to the regions in line with Western wishes but stopped well short of creating the federation sought by Russia.

The announcement came as Russia continued to mass tens thousands of troops along Ukraine's eastern border following a vow by President Vladimir Putin to use "any means necessary" to protect the interest of his compatriots in the neighboring ex-Soviet state.

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Russia Says NATO's Suspension of Cooperation with Moscow a 'Cold War' Move

Russia on Wednesday accused NATO of succumbing to "Cold War" instincts after the alliance suspended all cooperation with Moscow over the Crimea crisis.

"Basic instincts of Cold War have awoken in NATO, affecting rhetoric accordingly," the official Twitter page of Russia's mission to NATO quoted envoy Alexander Grushko as saying.

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U.S. Congress Passes Ukraine Aid, Russian Sanctions Bill

Congress easily passed a U.S. aid package for Ukraine on Tuesday that includes sanctions against Russia for annexing Crimea, in U.S. lawmakers' first binding response to the crisis.

The House of Representatives voted 378 to 34 to approve the bill, which the Senate green-lighted last week, meaning the bill, including $1 billion in loan guarantees to Ukraine, now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature.

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NATO Suspends Military, Civilian Cooperation with Russia

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Tuesday the Western alliance had suspended all military and civilian cooperation with Russia over the crisis in Ukraine, but that political dialogue remained open.

"We are suspending all practical cooperation with Russia, military and civilian," Rasmussen said at a NATO foreign ministers meeting on the crisis in Ukraine, adding however that "diplomatic lines of communication" remained open in the NATO-Russia Council.

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