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　　WASHINGTON — The United States says Russiaappears to be employing the same tactics ineastern Ukraine that were used to seize andannex Crimea earlier this year. The Obamaadministration says it stands ready to imposenew sanctions against Moscow if Ukraine’ssovereignty is violated once again.

　　Gunbattles between Ukrainian special forces and pro-Russian militias constitute anotherescalation of conflict in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian residents are agitating forautonomy from Kyiv.

　　“People of the southeast demand a referendum. It is the highest form of democracy and wewant every voice of every citizen of Ukraine to be heard,” said she.

　　On Palm Sunday in Kyiv, Elena Sergeeva was among Christian worshippers who prayed forpeace.

　　''We are very worried. Ukraine must not be divided and, God willing, people will understandthat we all are Ukrainians. We want a united east and west Ukraine,” said Sergeeva.

　　Russian officials insist they have no territorial designs on eastern Ukraine. But the Obamaadministration sees the hidden hand of Moscow behind the escalating conflict. U.S.ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power.

　　“It has all the telltale signs of what we saw in Crimea. It is professional, it is coordinated. Thereis nothing grassroots-seeming about it,” said Power.

　　Even before the current escalation of tensions in eastern Ukraine, some U.S. lawmakers urgedthe United States and Europe to take a stranger stand against Russian territorial expansion.Among them was Republican Senator Dan Coats:

　　"As I speak, anxieties are building that [Russian President] Vladimir Putin's first big bite out ofUkraine (Crimea) has not satisfied him, and he hungers for more… The lack of an effective,forceful response by the United States and by our allies, particularly our European allies, hasgiven President Putin reason to expect that further aggression will not be punished,” saidCoats

　　Ambassador Power disagrees.

　　“The Russian stock market has depreciated by 20 percent. Investors are fleeing. And that isjust on the basis of the sanctions we have put in place up to this point. The president (BarackObama) has made clear that, depending on Russian behavior, sanctions against energy,banking, and mining could be on the table,” said Power.

　　Asked if she believes President Putin wants control of eastern Ukraine, Power said Moscow’sactions “give credence” to that conclusion - despite Russia’s insistence to the contrary.