USA Today reports that “Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has not spoken to his Ukrainian counterpart since troops there fired automatic weapons on civilians, Rear Adm. John Kirby, Hagel’s spokesman, said Thursday.”  

“Hagel has not been in touch recently with Defense Minister Pavlo Lebedev despite efforts to engage with him, Kirby said.”  

“The White House condemned the latest attacks, calling on President Viktor Yanukovych to withdraw his forces from central Kiev.”  

“Pentagon officials have been urging Ukrainian troops to ‘remain on the sidelines,’ said Army Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman. Their use of force would have consequences for the relationship between the countries, he said.”