UPDATE 1-Russia, NATO trade accusations over Ukraine crisis

BRUSSELS/MOSCOW, June 2 (Reuters) - Russia's envoy to NATO on Monday accused the Western alliance of encouraging the use of force by the Ukrainian government in eastern Ukraine and of hampering efforts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis, Russian news agency RIA reported.

RIA quoted Alexander Grushko, who met ambassadors of NATO member states in Brussels, as saying "unprecedented" activity by the alliance near Russia's borders was adding to tension and could undermine existing security arrangements.

At a meeting that showed the sides were "far apart" on the Ukraine crisis, which has brought ties to a post-Cold War low, NATO envoys accused Russia of backing armed rebels in Ukraine, an alliance spokeswoman said.

NATO suspended all practical cooperation with Russia in April to protest its annexation of Crimea, but left the door open to contacts at ambassadorial level or higher in order to allow the two sides to discuss ways out of the crisis.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/02/ukraine-crisis-nato-russia-idUSL6N0OJ3O820140602?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=rbssEnergyNews&rpc=401