Russia’s foreign minister vowed yesterday to “stop” unrest in eastern Ukraine, fuelling concerns about escalating the conflict in the country’s east between pro-government and secessionist forces.

Speaking in Moscow ahead of the arrival of Joe Biden, US vice-president, in Kiev for an official visit, Sergei Lavrov warned about a possible Russian military intervention in Ukraine, saying his country faced demands to “rescue” its western neighbour.

“There are more and more calls to Russia for rescue from this lawlessness. That puts us in an extremely complicated situation,” Mr Lavrov said. “Those who are deliberately trying to trigger a civil war, obviously hoping to provoke a big, serious, bloody conflict, are engaging in a criminal policy. And we will not only condemn but also stop it.”