US Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday told Moscow it was risking regional peace and security by deploying troops to Ukraine and warned of a 'profound effect' on US-Russia ties. "Unless immediate and concrete steps are taken by Russia to deescalate tensions, the effect on US-Russian relations and on Russia's international standing will be profound," Kerry said in a statement, adding that Moscow's actions were "a threat to the peace and security of Ukraine, and the wider region."