Russia warned Kiev on Friday that it would face justice for a "bloody crime" in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces killed up to five pro-Russian separatists a day earlier, while Washington said Moscow was running out of time to defuse the crisis before facing further sanctions.

"They (Kiev) are waging a war on their own people. This is a bloody crime, and those who pushed the army to do that will pay, I am sure, and will face justice," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a meeting of diplomats.

Lavrov said Moscow was committed to implementing an agreement struck in Geneva on April 17 between Ukraine, Russia, the United States and the European Union to ease tensions in Ukraine and disarm illegal groups. But he accused Washington of distorting the deal with "one-sided demands".

The Russian Defense Ministry said it was ready for "unbiased and constructive" talks with the US to stabilize the situation.

US President Barack Obama said he would consult key European leaders later on Friday on the failed agreement to ease tensions in Ukraine and on imposing new sanctions against Russia.

"The window to change course is closing," US Secretary of State John Kerry said late on Thursday, citing Obama's earlier comments that Washington was ready to impose new sanctions on top of those imposed after Crimea was annexed.

"If Russia continues in this direction, it will not just be a grave mistake, it will be an expensive mistake," Kerry said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has scoffed at the sanctions so far imposed, which have been limited to travel bans and overseas assets freezes on individuals.

Ukraine said Russian troops conducting exercises had approached to within 1 kilometer of the border and that aircraft had also taken part in the maneuvers.

Odessa clash

Seven people were injured overnight at a pro-Ukrainian checkpoint near the Black Sea port of Odessa when an explosive device blew up, police said on Friday.

Residents in the town have built several such checkpoints near the town aimed at stopping pro-Russian separatists entering from Moldova's breakaway territory of Transdniestria.

Interfax news agency quoted witnesses as saying a bomb was thrown at the checkpoint from a passing car, though this was not confirmed by police.

Transdniestria, home to Russian peacekeepers and Russian troops guarding a Soviet-era arms stock, declared independence in the early 1990s.

NATO warned last month of a possible Russian military grab for Transdniestria following its annexation of Crimea.

Ukrainian forces killed up to five pro-Moscow separatists on Thursday as they closed in on the separatists' military stronghold in the east, and Russia launched army exercises near the border in response, raising fears its troops would invade.

The Ukrainian offensive is the first time Kiev's troops have used lethal force to recapture territory from rebels who have seized swathes of eastern Ukraine since April 6 and proclaimed an independent "People's Republic of Donetsk".

The Kremlin, which says it has the right to protect Russian speakers in its neighbor, has built up forces - estimated by NATO at up to 40,000 troops - on Ukraine's border.

Reuters-AFP

(China Daily 04/26/2014 page8)