Ukraine crisis 'created artificially' - Russia's Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said the crisis in Ukraine was "created artificially for purely geopolitical reasons".

He confirmed Russia had contacts with Ukraine's interim government but said Kiev was beholden to the radical right.

Russia, he said, was open to further dialogue with the West if it was "honest and partner-like".

Meanwhile, Russia's deputy foreign minister has held talks with Ukraine's ambassador in Moscow.

The foreign ministry gave no details but said the talks on Saturday between deputy minister Grigory Karasin and ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko were held in an "open atmosphere".

Earlier, Ukraine's interim Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya said he saw hopeful signs Russia might engage in talks.

In related developments:

Ukraine's Crimea region remains tense ahead of a self-declared referendum to be held on 16 March on whether to join the Russian Federation.

Pro-Russian soldiers apparently tried to seize another Ukrainian military base outside the biggest city, Sevastopol, overnight but no shots were fired and they pulled back.

Two journalists were attacked and beaten during the standoff while it has emerged that an Associated Press crew had their equipment seized in the Crimean capital, Simferopol, on Thursday.

The BBC's Christian Fraser in Crimea says that every day there is intimidation of the Ukrainians, who believe pro-Russian soldiers are trying to force a reaction as a pretext to take over.

It is becoming more dangerous for the media, our correspondent adds.

Also on Saturday, a team of international military observers was again refused entry to Crimea.

Warning shots were fired as a convoy including members of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) approached the border, but witnesses said the shots did not appear directed at the observers.

It is the third time in a week that the team has been turned back at Crimea's land border with the rest of Ukraine.

Pro-Russian forces took control of key installations on the peninsula on 28 February in a largely bloodless operation which seems to have had the support of many of Crimea's majority ethnic Russians.

On Friday, Mr Lavrov warned the US not to take "hasty and reckless steps" in response to the crisis in Crimea.

Speaking to reporters in Moscow on Saturday, he said: "We are ready to continue a dialogue [with the West] on the understanding that a dialogue should be honest and partner-like, and without attempts to make us look like a party to the conflict. We didn't create this crisis."

The crisis in Ukraine began in late November when President Viktor Yanukovych abandoned a landmark agreement with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia.

Mr Lavrov insisted the basis for any talks should be the agreement signed on 21 February between Ukraine's opposition and Mr Yanukovych, under which a national unity government would be formed and early elections would be held by December.

The following day, Mr Yanukovych fled the capital Kiev as protesters seized his office and parliament voted to remove him from power.

The Russian foreign minister said the interim government in Kiev was "not independent because it depends to a great extent on the radical nationalists who seized power by force of arms".

Right Sector, the main radical group, was "calling the tune" in Kiev, he said, and using "terror and intimidation" as its methods.

Kiev does not recognise Crimea's pro-Moscow leadership, which was sworn in at an emergency session as pro-Russian forces began to take over.

Western states have accused Russia of violating Ukrainian sovereignty in Crimea, home to its Black Sea Fleet.

Both the US and EU have threatened Moscow with sanctions.