Russian President Vladimir Putin is suspected by the West of fomenting mounting civil unrest in eastern Ukraine to destabilise the country as a precursor to possible Russian military intervention by troops massed across the border.
US counterpart Barack Obama warned Putin in a phone call on Monday that Moscow could risk “further costs” for its alleged actions in Ukraine and demanded the Russian leader use his influence to force pro-Russia separatists that have seized official buildings in the east of the country to stand down.
Putin
