Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned Kyiv it will respond if its interests in Ukraine are attacked.

In an interview with TV channel Russia Today he accused the US of “running the show” in Ukraine and added it was “quite telling” the government had relaunched its offensive during a visit by US Vice -President Joe Biden.

Lavrov’s interview was broadcast as a Russian military unit took part in exercises in the Rostov-on-Don region close to Ukraine. During his visit the US vice-president called on Moscow to pull back its troops from the border.

The Russian foreign minister compared the current crisis with the 2008 Georgian War. That happened after Tibilisi sent troops to the breakaway region of South Ossetia to regain control from Russian-backed rebels.

Lavrov also reiterated accusations Kyiv had failed to abide by the Geneva accord.