Russia questions Ukraine holding an election while its troops are deployed

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday ruled out holding a second international meeting in a bid to defuse the crisis in Ukraine, also saying it would be "unusual" to hold a presidential election in the country when the army was being deployed against the population. In what could be a sign of Moscow preparing to question the legitimacy of the May 25 presidential election if it is unhappy with the process, Lavrov said, "In the situation where they use the army against their own population, it's quite unusual." "This is not Afghanistan; this is a completely different situation," he said, adding that constitutional reforms promised by Kiev's new leaders would not be implemented in time for the vote. Kiev's security forces have launched their biggest effort yet to dislodge the pro-Russian militants who have overrun the south and east of the country, reportedly seizing buildings in dozens of towns and cities. Both sides clashed at the rebel stronghold of Slovyansk on Monday. Ukraine's security services said 30 "heavily armed" militants had been killed in recent days as part of the "anti-terrorist" operation in the volatile region. The rising tensions could have an impact far beyond Ukraine's borders, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned on Tuesday. "Today we are facing the gravest crisis to European security since the end of the Cold War," he told reporters. "But this is not just about Ukraine. This crisis has serious implications for the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic area as a whole." Asked about a German proposal to hold a second international meeting on Ukraine, Lavrov said the agreements reached during the first round of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, last month still had not been implemented. He also called for pro-Russian sympathizers to be involved in talks. "We already discussed the framework of the possible actions of stabilizing Ukraine. We already discussed it. There's no point doing it again," he said. "Of course, it is possible, but we will walk in circles, and we will repeat the same things, and we will say again and again that we have to stick to the decisions which were already made -- but it's up to the Ukrainians to realize that it's their country, that they have to live in peace between themselves." Lavrov was speaking after a meeting of the Council of Europe in the Austrian capital of Vienna, where the Ukrainian crisis dominated talks, even though diplomatic efforts have done little to ease the situation. His words came as violence escalated, with Ukraine's military seeking to regain control of swaths of the country that pro-Russian militia groups have seized. Kiev and many in the West believe that the separatists are backed by Moscow and fear that Russian President Vladimir Putin is fomenting trouble to increase his influence in the region. TAGS: Ukrainian,Ukraine Protest,Ukraine Crisis,Ukraine Ex-Leader, Ukraine crisis: NATO chief Rasmussen says no Russian troop withdrawal seen Ukraine Crisis: No sign of Russian troop pullout - Nato Ukraine Crisis: No sign of Russian troop pullout Ukraine crisis: Putin 'orders partial withdrawal' Ukraine crisis: Nato sees 'no sign of Russian troop WITHDRAWAL Ukraine crisis: Vladimir Putin orders 'partial withdrawal' Ukraine crisis: Putin orders 'partial' troop pullout Ukraine crisis: No sign of Russian troop pullout 'No sign of Russian troop pullout Russia vows no Ukraine invasion as leaders seek solution Ukraine crisis: NATO chief says no Russian troop Ukraine crisis: Russia 'withdrawing troops from border Russia announces withdrawal of a battalion from Ukrainian Crimea crisis: Ukrainian troops pull out Crimea: EU's actions have 'provoked Russia The Ukrainian Crisis Timeline 'No sign' of Russian troop pullout | USA TOP NEWS Ukraine crisis: No sign of Russian troop pullout UPDATE 5-Russian prime minister angers Ukraine Ukraine crisis: No sign of Russian troop pullout Ukraine crisis: US troops land in Poland for exercises US troops arrive in Poland for exercises across Russia's Sergey Lavrov: U.S. 'running the show' in Kiev U.S. troops arrive in Poland for exercises amid Ukraine Ukraine crisis: UK RAF fighter jets scrambled to investigate Europe - US soldiers arrive in Poland as Ukraine crisis US troops arrive in Poland for exercises across Eastern US Troops Arrive in Poland for Exercises Across Eastern Ukraine crisis: US troops arrive in Poland Ukraine crisis: US troops land in Poland for exercises First American troops land in Poland for exercises Ukraine Crisis US Troops Land In Poland: Amid Tensions US troops arrive in Poland amid Ukraine crisis US troops land in Poland for exercises Russia questions Ukraine holding an election while its troops are deployed