Update | Russia-US tensions explode into row as Kerry refuses to attend Moscow talks

Russian-US tensions over Ukraine exploded into a public row on Monday, as Secretary of State John Kerry refused to attend talks in Moscow after his counterpart snubbed Kiev’s interim leaders.

Russia’s wily foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, came out swinging first, putting the much-travelled Kerry on the spot by denouncing him for turning down an invitation to meet on Moscow on Monday.

But US officials hit back that the time was not right for Kerry to visit Moscow as there was no sign that President Vladimir Putin was prepared to negotiate, or that Lavrov was authorised to lead any talks.

Washington has led global efforts to defuse tensions since Russian troops deployed troops last week in Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula after a months-long tussle over Ukraine’s future direction, which saw the pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych flee the country.

The Crimea, home to Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet, will hold a potentially explosive vote on Sunday on whether to split from Ukraine and join Russia - threatening to tear the country apart.