Putin blames Ukraine's 'criminal orders' for new fighting

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a forum dedicated to the civil society in Moscow, January 15, 2015. REUTERS/Alexei Nikolsky/RIA Novosti/Kremlin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed "criminal orders" by Ukrainian leaders on Friday for a surge in fighting in east Ukraine, and Russian-backed separatists struck a bellicose tone in ruling out seeking more peace talks.

Putin's remarks, and the comments by the separatists' main leader, signalled a hardening of positions in a conflict which the U.N. human rights office said had killed more than 5,000 people, including 262 in the last nine days.