Ukraine calls for international efforts to restore peace

Kiev, April 25 (IANS) Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk Friday urged the international community to unite their efforts to restore peace in the world.

"If Ukraine and the international community unite to force Russia to fulfill its international obligations, we would keep the peace and stability in the world," Yatsenyuk told a cabinet meeting.

Yatsenyuk accused Russia of violating the compromise Geneva agreement and attempting to "start the World War III by escalating the crisis in Ukraine", Xinhua reported.

He warned that the "possible military conflict in Ukraine may lead to a military conflict in Europe".

As tensions rise in Ukraine's embattled east, Kiev and Moscow are blaming each other for fomenting the unrest and failing to implement the agreement reached in Geneva last week to ease the conflict.

The standoff between the two ex-Soviet neighbours peaked Thursday, when Russia began drills near the border with Ukraine in response to Kiev's "anti-terror" operation, which left five pro-Russian protestors dead.