The Ukrainian authorities have said they will end the occupation of administrative buildings by pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country, either by negotiations or force, within 48 hours, as four-way talks between Russia, Ukraine, the US and EU were announced for next week in an attempt to defuse the tense situation.
"A resolution to this crisis will be found within the next 48 hours," said the interior minister, Arsen Avakov, in Kiev, referring to the eastern cities of Luhansk and Donetsk where protesters remained in control of government buildings.
"For those who want dialogue, we propose talks and a political solution. For the minority who want conflict they will get a forceful answer from the Ukrainian authorities," he said.
In Luhansk, the protesters did not appear in the mood to compromise, and on Wednesday were reinforcing the barricades around the security services building they have seized, and preparing petrol bombs.
In Donetsk, protesters remain in control of the local administration building, from where on Monday they proclaimed Donetsk an independent republic and said they would hold a referendum within a month on the region's status and whether it should appeal to join Russia.
In Kharkiv, protesters also seized the local administration building, but were removed by security forces, who arrested 70 people.
Kiev has claimed the protesters are directed by Russian security services, and on Tuesday, the US secretary of state, John Kerry, accused Moscow of stirring up unrest, possibly as a pretext for Crimea-style military intervention.
Many locals in eastern Ukraine have concerns about the new government in Kiev, but support for actually joining Russia, unlike in Crimea, is not widespead.
In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin is due to meet with his cabinet on Wednesday and discuss possible economic responses to Ukraine. The Russian gas monopoly, Gazprom, says Russia has not received any money for March gas deliveries and still has a $2.2bn (£1.3bn) debt outstanding from Ukraine. Kiev has said it will pay the debt but has protested at an 80% rise in gas prices announced last week.
Diplomats will hope that four-way talks next week could help to defuse the situation.
