WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States on Wednesday warned Russia against a military intervention in Ukraine, saying such a move would be a “grave mistake,” as troops in western Russia were placed on high alert for massive new war games in the area, including near the Russian-Ukrainian border.

In delivering the blunt message, Secretary of State John Kerry also announced that the Obama administration was planning $1 billion in loan guarantees for Ukraine and would consider additional direct assistance for the former Soviet republic following unrest that led to the ouster of its Russian-backed president.

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