U.S. Warns Russia Against Escalation, Sends Biden To Kyiv

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden

The White House has said U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Ukraine on April 22, as it warned Russia against military escalation.

A White House statement said on April 12 that during his meetings with government leaders and civil society groups, Biden will "underscore the United States' strong support for a united, democratic Ukraine."

The statement said Biden and Ukrainian officials will consult on the recent events in eastern Ukraine, "where pro-Russian separatists, apparently with the support of Moscow, continue an orchestrated campaign of incitement and sabotage to destabilize the Ukrainian state."

Meetings will also address the short- and long-term energy security of Ukraine.

Earlier on April 12, Laura Lucas Magnuson, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, said, "We call on President [Vladimir] Putin and his government to cease all efforts to destabilize Ukraine, and we caution against further military intervention."

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP