International community trading accusations over escalating Ukraine violence

Rising tensions in Ukraine have deepened concerns of the international community, as countries kept war of words over who should be responsible for escalating bloodshed in the Eastern European country. Kiev has witnessed the bloodiest outburst of violence in demonstrations that began last November, with 26 killed and 388 injured overnight on Tuesday, marking the latest waves of tragedy in the three months' confrontation between the opposition and the Yanukovich government. A Wednesday statement by the Foreign Ministry of Russia, Ukraine's long-term ally, dismissed the protests as "criminal actions" of radical opposition in order to "forcibly seize power." "Russia demands the (opposition) leaders stop the bloodshed and immediately resume dialogue with legal authorities without any threat," the ministry said, adding Western politicians and institutions should be blamed for Ukraine's violence. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on the same day that President Putin expressed endorsement for peaceful talks between Ukrainian parties, and accused the opposition for tearing up previous agreement reached in his telephone conversation with Yanukovich Echoing Russia, Brazil emphasized Wednesday that crisis in Kiev must be resolved "by the Ukrainians themselves in a peaceful manner." Western leaders, however, have kept condemning the Ukrainian government and said it should take major responsibility for the violence. U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday that he expected "the Ukrainian government to show restraint," and "not to resort to violence in dealing with peaceful protestors." U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said his government is considering sanctions to Ukraine in respond to the violence there. Earlier that day, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned Ukraine that its "ties with NATO will be seriously damaged." The threat of sanctions to "those who have committed acts (of violence)" is also voiced by French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. "We are on the side of men and women who suffer," said Merkel. Hungary on Wednesday called on the European Union to go into action to halt the violence in the neighboring country. In respond, the Ukrainian foreign ministry called on Wednesday in its official website the international community to be objective and restrained when assessing the current crisis, and to base their position on reliable and proven facts. However, more voices are urging for a political settlement to the crisis. UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon Wednesday called for the "immediate end" to the clashes and restoration of public order by "renewal of genuine, constructive dialogue." The call of the UN chief got respond in Slovakia and Georgia, as the two countries made similar urges for political dialogue and end of violence in Ukraine. Ankara said Wednesday it was ready to do "whatever necessary for stability and peace in Ukraine," according to Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey, a country that shares the Black Sea coast with nations including Ukraine, and have signed a strategic cooperation agreement with it.