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Ukraine crisis: Kerry and Lavrov hold Geneva discussions Ukraine crisis: Lavrov reports 'progress' with truce
(about 2 hours later)
US Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting his Russian counterpart for the first time since he accused Russia of lying about its role in Ukraine's war. Russia's foreign minister says there has been tangible progress in implementing the truce aimed at ending the fighting in Ukraine.
The talks with Sergei Lavrov in Geneva coincide with a UN report on human rights violations and the humanitarian crisis in east Ukraine. Speaking at the UN after meeting his US counterpart, Sergei Lavrov said weapons were being withdrawn from front lines.
The UN says the conflict has claimed at least 6,000 lives, with hundreds killed in the past few weeks alone. US Secretary of State John Kerry called on the UN to examine rights violations.
The talks - the first since Mr Kerry accused Russia of lying about its role in Ukraine's war - coincided with the release of a UN human rights report.
The report states that the conflict has claimed at least 6,000 lives, with hundreds killed in the past few weeks alone, although it says that the real number of fatalities could be considerably higher.
A fragile ceasefire is holding despite some fighting in recent days.A fragile ceasefire is holding despite some fighting in recent days.
At his meeting in Geneva, Mr Kerry is also expected to raise the brutal murder of a Russian opposition politician in Moscow on Friday. 'Heinous crime'
Boris Nemtsov, who was shot on a bridge near the Kremlin, had been planning an anti-war rally and was said to be working on a report to expose the presence of Russian troops in Ukraine. Speaking after the meeting in Geneva, Mr Lavrov called on the Ukrainian government to distance itself from "extremists" and urged Kiev to promote economic recovery of rebel-held areas.
His allies accused the Kremlin of involvement but Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the murder as "vile" and vowed to find the killers. He also described the brutal murder of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov on Friday as a "heinous crime"
Mr Kerry will press for an investigation that he said should examine not only who pulled the trigger, but who ordered, funded and co-ordinated Mr Nemtsov's murder. Mr Nemtsov, who was shot on a bridge near the Kremlin, had been planning an anti-war rally and was said to be working on a report to expose the presence of Russian troops in Ukraine.
His allies accused the Kremlin of involvement but Mr Lavrov condemned the murder and vowed that Russia would find the killers.
"This is a heinous crime which will be fully investigated within the full framework of the law to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice."
Mr Kerry was expected to use the talks to call for an investigation examining not only who pulled the trigger, but who ordered, funded and co-ordinated Mr Nemtsov's murder.
'Merciless devastation''Merciless devastation'
Fighting began in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions last April, a month after Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula.Fighting began in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions last April, a month after Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula.
The UN estimates that at least 1.25 million have fled their homes, and believes that the real number of fatalities could be considerably higher than the 6,000 it has given. The UN estimates that at least 1.25 million have fled their homes since the conflict started.
In its latest report, released on Monday, it refers to credible accounts of heavy weapons and foreign fighters continuing to flow into eastern Ukraine from Russia. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said the report, released on Monday, painted a picture of "merciless devastation of civilian lives and infrastructure".
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said the report painted a picture of "merciless devastation of civilian lives and infrastructure". The document refers to "credible accounts" of heavy weapons and foreign fighters continuing to flow into eastern Ukraine from Russia.
The Ukrainian government, Western leaders and Nato say there is clear evidence that Russia is helping the rebels with heavy weapons and soldiers.The Ukrainian government, Western leaders and Nato say there is clear evidence that Russia is helping the rebels with heavy weapons and soldiers.
Independent experts echo that accusation but Moscow denies it, insisting that any Russians serving with the rebels are "volunteers".Independent experts echo that accusation but Moscow denies it, insisting that any Russians serving with the rebels are "volunteers".
Both sides in the conflict have been pulling back some heavy weaponry from the front line - one of the conditions of the ceasefire agreement signed in the Belarusian capital Minsk last month.Both sides in the conflict have been pulling back some heavy weaponry from the front line - one of the conditions of the ceasefire agreement signed in the Belarusian capital Minsk last month.
A senior official in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Eduard Basurin, told the BBC on Monday the rebels had withdrawn "absolutely 100%" of heavy weapons from the front line in line with the Minsk agreement.A senior official in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Eduard Basurin, told the BBC on Monday the rebels had withdrawn "absolutely 100%" of heavy weapons from the front line in line with the Minsk agreement.
He went on to accuse the Ukrainian government of "only withdrawing anti-tank weapons". But the government accused the rebels on Sunday of "simulating" a withdrawal of heavy weapons.
The government accused the rebels on Sunday of "simulating" a withdrawal of heavy weapons.
Monitors from the OSCE security group have reported weapons movements on both sides but say it is too early to confirm a full withdrawal.Monitors from the OSCE security group have reported weapons movements on both sides but say it is too early to confirm a full withdrawal.
'Craven behaviour''Craven behaviour'
The talks in Geneva are expected to be tense after Mr Kerry last week accused Russian officials of lying to him about Moscow's support for the rebels. The talks in Geneva came after Mr Kerry last week accused Russian officials of lying to him about Moscow's support for the rebels.
During a visit to London, Mr Kerry accused the Kremlin of "craven behaviour" in its support for the pro-Russian fighters, undermining a ceasefire. During a visit to London, he accused the Kremlin of "craven behaviour" in its support for the pro-Russian fighters, undermining a ceasefire.
Meanwhile violence continued over the weekend in eastern Ukraine: The Ukrainian parliament is due to vote on a package of reforms on Monday that could determine whether it will avoid economic meltdown in the coming weeks.
A US official travelling with Mr Kerry told reporters it was "too soon to tell" if the ceasefire would lead to an end in violence. Meanwhile violence has continued in the east of the country.
Separately, the US secretary of state is also expected to renew negotiations with Iran's Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Tehran's nuclear programme on Monday.
There is an end of March deadline to reach agreement on limiting the programme, in return for an easing of economic sanctions on Iran.