U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov against military intervention in Ukraine, in a joint press conference Friday.
“I've made it clear that intervention would, in our judgment, be a very grave mistake,” said Kerry. “It would be completely contrary to Russian policies as stated now with respect to Libya, Syria, other places.”
Reports have emerged from Ukraine’s pro-Russia Crimean region of increased movement of Russia's forces, which included armored vehicles and personnel. Russia docks part of its Black Sea Fleet at a naval base in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol.
In a move that could potentially see Ukraine divided, Crimea's Parliament voted Thursday to hold a referendum on potential independence.
“This is the tension that exists within Ukraine itself. There's an East-West tension right within Ukraine,” said Kerry.
