Russia conservative on resuming Geneva talks

Russia has questioned the feasibility of resuming the Geneva format negotiations over the Ukraine crisis, accusing Kiev of making empty promises.

"By taking a look at the current situation there is a question shaping up about the feasibility of returning to the format, which did not bring the expected result," Xinhua quoted a Russian foreign ministry statement as saying Thursday.

The Geneva deals struck by Ukraine, Russia, the US and the European Union in April envisaged that Kiev would start constitutional process to end the months-long bloodshed in its southeastern regions.

Moscow said some Ukrainian politicians, Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk in particular, recently expressed ideas on the necessity of returning to the Geneva format negotiations, but "all those agreements have been gravely violated by Ukraine".

"Instead of de-escalation, Kiev has intensified combat operations in the country's south-east, using heavy weaponry," the ministry said.

"Instead of real constitutional reform and dialogue with their own people, the authorities attempted some indistinct backstage manoeuvers, which resulted in nothing but empty promises," a media report quoted the Russian foreign ministry as saying.

Over 4,000 people have been killed in clashes between Ukrainian government troops and independence-seeking militants in southeastern regions, according to the UN.

Two self- proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Lugansk, have elected their leaders and legislative bodies last Sunday but they were rejected by Kiev.