Ukraine crisis: Joe Biden warns Russia

How touching, kissing with their noses.

US Vice-President Joe Biden has warned Russia faces "rising costs and greater isolation" if it fails to respect the September peace deal in Ukraine.

Mr Biden, on a visit to Ukraine where he met President Petro Poroshenko, called on Russia to withdraw its military forces from Ukraine.

Ukrainians are marking a year since the start of the uprising which ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Amid celebrations, they paid tribute to those killed over the winter in Kiev.

Ukraine formed a coalition government on Friday with a mission to overhaul the economy, fight corruption and pursue integration with the EU.

Since the ousting of Mr Yanukovych in February, Russia has annexed Crimea from Ukraine after a disputed referendum while a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine has cost at least 4,300 lives.

Russia is regularly accused of arming separatist rebels but its officials deny the allegations.

'Russia and her proxies'

After stressing the danger posed to Ukraine by Russian aggression, the US vice-president said there was a "different path for Russia and her proxies".

He said Russia should respect the ceasefire, restore Ukrainian control over its own borders and remove "illegal military formations, military equipment and militants".

He said Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to carry out all of those actions, but none had occurred.

In the run-up to Mr Biden's visit, Russian officials warned the US against selling arms to the government in Kiev.

American officials told the Reuters news agency that Mr Biden would announce an increase in supplies including radars and vehicles, but would not supply arms.