'No excuses' for Russia's provocations in Ukraine, says U.S.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- The United States warned Monday "the costs to Russia will rise" if Russia and its proxies continue to violate the Minsk Protocol signed Sept. 5.

According to the Minsk Protocol, all parties to the Ukraine conflict agreed to deescalate the crisis through the institution of an immediate cease-fire and the withdrawal of illegal armed groups, mercenaries and military equipment -- two stipulations that have largely been ignored.

Last week, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine reported "convoys of heavy weapons and tanks" in the city of Donetsk and in Makeevka.

"There are no excuses for these ongoing and continuous blatant violations of the Minsk protocol by Russia and its proxies," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Monday.

"If Russia is truly committed to Minsk and peace in Ukraine, it will stop fueling the fire with new weapons and support for separatists and withdraw all Russian military personnel and equipment from Ukraine, and it will call on its proxies to stop cease-fire violations, release hostages, and close the international border."

Psaki reiterated a warning made by the White House on Nov. 3: "Should Moscow continue to ignore the commitments that it made in Minsk and continue its destabilizing and dangerous actions, the costs to Russia will rise."