Live Blog: Ukraine In Crisis (Archive)

Kerry says he made clear to Lavrov that the United States considers Russian actions in Crimea to be illegal and illegitimate.

Kerry says he and Lavrov agree that diplomacy is the best way to defuse the Ukraine crisis. Kerry says Russia and the United States agree to work with the Ukrainian government to solve the crisis. Kerry stressed there will be no decisions on Ukraine without the Ukrainians.

Kerry says he raised with Lavrov "strong concerns" about the presence of Russian forces at Ukraine's border creating a climate of fear and intimidation. Appearing on Russian television ahead of his talks with Kerry, Lavrov had denied the massing of tens of thousands of Russian troops near Ukraine was a sign Moscow planned to invade following its annexation of Crimea.

In their Paris talks, Lavrov again said Ukraine should be unified in a federation allowing wide autonomy to its regions.

Good morning. We've a couple of interesting tweets for you to get the live blog rolling today:

not a good photo for Monday morning... pic.twitter.com/uEbj7x80Sd

— Kateryna_Kruk (@Kateryna_Kruk) March 31, 2014

On the frontlines of #Ukraine 's defense against a Russian attack, an 18-year-old private named after Alain Delon http://t.co/lX5420VgJU

— James Marson (@marson_jr) March 31, 2014

"No decisions abt UKR w/out UKR." Entire Czech and Slovak nations wake up today and applauds: http://t.co/hXYfNL9GQm

— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) March 31, 2014

#Ukraine gov issued terse statement urging #Russia to worry about treatment of its own national minorities, including #Ukrainians. #NYTimes

— Douglas Herbert (@dougf24) March 31, 2014

People in #Simferopol queuing in front of ATMs. Has been going on for weeks. Cash shortage in #Crimea pic.twitter.com/NDjb8Q6Sxk

— Paul Gypteau (@paulgypteau) March 31, 2014

Russian news agencies report that Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has arrived in the Crimea for a visit

— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) March 31, 2014

Dmitry Medvedev has become the highest-level Russian politician to visit Crimea since the annexation. Currently in Sevastopol.

— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) March 31, 2014