The Kremlin on Tuesday blamed European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso for quoting Russian President Vladimir Putin inappropriately and revealing details of his phone conversation with Putin.

Western media reported that Barroso told Saturday's European Council meeting that Putin threatened during their telephone conversation that Russia would take Kiev within two weeks if he wanted to.

What Barroso did is "incorrect and goes beyond the bounds of diplomatic practices," Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said, stressing that the "take Kiev" remarks were taken out of context and had a very different meaning.

Ushakov once again refuted allegations about Russia sending troops to Ukraine.

"There have been numerous refutations on this. Relevant explanations have already been given," he said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that Moscow will not militarily interfere in the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine faces the danger of escalation as news reports show that the fighting in eastern Ukraine is spreading southward, near the border of the Sea of Azov and Russia.

The European Union decided on Sunday to give Moscow one week to de-escalate the Ukraine crisis, otherwise the bloc may impose tougher sanctions on Russia.

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