Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov "urged the United States to use its influence with the Kiev authorities to nudge them toward a more realistic assessment of the situation, making them realize the hopelessness of using force to resolve a domestic conflict," the Russian foreign ministry said on Saturday after the two diplomats spoke by telephone.

Ukrainian troops have carried out a military operation since mid-April to crush pro-Russian activists in the east.

Kiev says that it is targeting armed protesters, but many civilians have been caught in the shelling which has been going on for days.

Schools, houses, institutions and even an orphanage have been targeted by Kiev’s military in Slavyansk in recent weeks.

Over 200 people, many of them civilians, have been killed in Ukraine so far.

RA/SHI