Lavrov tells Kerry Ukraine violence due to 'constant firing' by Kiev troops

MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking to his US counterpart John Kerry on Sunday, blamed the latest upsurge in fighting in eastern Ukraine on Ukrainian government forces who he said were "constantly" shelling towns.

"Sergei Lavrov pointed out that an escalation of the situation is a result of Ukrainian troops crudely violating the Minsk agreements by constantly shelling residential settlements," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.