NIT – It was reported that 31 people were killed in the Ukrainian port city of Odessa Friday as pro-Russia demonstrators clashed with Ukrainian troops.
In a statement, the US State Department said that “the violence and mayhem that led to so many senseless deaths and injuries is unacceptable. We call on all sides to work together to restore calm and law and order, and we call on the Ukrainian authorities to launch a full investigation and to bring all those responsible to justice.”
A State Department spokesperson said that the events in Odesa that led to the deadly fire in the Trade Union Building dramatically underscore the need for an immediate de-escalation of tensions in Ukraine.
“The violence and efforts to destabilize the country must end. We again call for the immediate implementation of the commitments made in Geneva on April 17. The United States stands ready to support this implementation.”
Russian President Vladamir Putin has ratcheted up the stakes in recent days, calling Ukraine “New Russia”, signaling that Russia seeks to impose dominance on the former Soviet republic.
