Russian biker gang leader Zaldostanov speaking earlier at the rally today:
"In these days, when all of Russia's enemies are mobilizing I call on you to rally around the President of Russia...there will be no Maidan in Russia."
A rather offensive banner held by pro-Kremlin protesters today. Roughly translated it says "We are not Mai-Downs." It's an apparent play on Down syndrome -- the genetic disorder that impairs intellectual growth.
Away from Moscow and back to diplomacy:
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said the United States and its allies are not prepared to play games with Russia and are discussing additional sanctions against the country over its actions in Ukraine.
Kerry made the comments as he began a meeting with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in London on February 21.
He said Russia had engaged in “an absolutely brazen and cynical process” during the past days.
He said: "We are talking about additional sanctions."
Hammond also criticized Russia's "breaches" of a cease-fire agreement signed in Minsk last week.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military and Russia-backed separatists accused each other of continuing to mount attacks in eastern Ukraine despite the truce agreement.
Moscow denies it is arming rebels and sending soldiers into Ukraine.
From our news desk:
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has discussed diplomatic efforts to end the war in eastern Ukraine during a visit at the Vatican on February 21 with Pope Francis.
Merkel, who played a key role in negotiating the latest ceasefire deal, had a private audience with the pope where a Vatican statement said the two underlined their "commitment to reaching a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine."
Francis and Merkel also discussed poverty, women's rights, health issues, and the environment -- topics that are on the agenda at the G7 summit Germany will host in June.
It was the third meeting between Merkel and Pope Francis.
The German chancellor arrived in Rome on February 20 with a 15-member and paid a surprise visit to the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum.
More on the build-up around Mariupol:
Kyiv said on February 21 pro-Russian separatists are building up forces and weapons in southeastern Ukraine near the coast of the Sea of Azov, and that Ukrainian government forces are bracing for the possibility of a Russian-backed attack on the port city of Mariupol.
Ukraine’s military issued the statement on February 21, a day after it accused Russia of sending more tanks, troops, and heavy artillery toward the rebel-held town of Novoazovsk just to the east of government-controlled Mariupol.
The allegations come after Russian-backed separatists stormed into the eastern Ukrainian town of Debaltseve, seizing the strategic railway hub there from government forces despite a cease-fire deal signed in Minsk days earlier.
Ukrainian officials say that if the separatists attack Mariupol in the days ahead, it will mark the end of the European-brokered cease-fire deal.
More on Kerry's meeting in London today:
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says President Barack Obama will evaluate his options on dealing with events in eastern Ukraine “in the next few days” – including possible further sanctions against Russia and the option of arming Ukrainian troops to fight Russian-backed separatists.
Speaking after talks in London on February 21 with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, Kerry said U.S. officials have had “serious discussions” with European allies and additional steps will be taken in response to violations of a cease-fire deal signed in Minsk last week.
Kerry said Russia had engaged in “an absolutely brazen and cynical process” during the past days, as separatists seized the strategic eastern Ukrainian town of Debaltseve despite the cease-fire deal.
Kyiv said on February 21 that separatists were building up forces and weapons in southeastern Ukraine and government forces were bracing for a possible Russian-backed attack on Mariupol.