Russia: U.S. responsible for Ukraine conflict

MOSCOW , June 11 (UPI) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday the United States is responsible for keeping Ukraine locked in conflict.

It said Washington was offering no solution to the pro-Russian separatist effort in eastern Ukraine and was "pushing the current Kiev authorities into continuing the fratricidal intrastate conflict." Although U.S. and Western European officials have long accused Russia of sending arms and troops to the region, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted Moscow has regularly denied the allegations, adding it was not undertaking "unusual military activity."

The West has imposed economic sanctions on Russia as a penalty for its movements into Crimea and Ukraine.

The ministry also commented on an accusation, in a U.S. report, that Russia violated arms treaty responsibilities by not eliminating intermediate-range and short-range missiles.

"The conclusion from the report is that the (U.S.) State Department still prefers the propagandistic approach to thoughtful, detailed and substantive discussion of problems (regarding arms control treaties)," the ministry statement said.

A result of the G7 summit, earlier this week, was the continuation of sanctions against Russia. A White House statement, issued after President Barack Obama spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, noted, "The duration of sanctions should be clearly linked to Russia's full implementation of the Minsk agreements (calling for a ceasefire) and respect for Ukraine's sovereignty."