Kerry:

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said late on Sunday he and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, discussed suggestions for de-escalating the Ukraine crisis during four hours of talks in Paris.<br/> <br />"Both sides made suggestions on ways to de-escalate the security and political situation in and around Ukraine," Kerry said of their meeting.<br/> <br />"The United States is consulting with Ukraine at every step of this process. And we will not accept a path forward where the legitimate government of Ukraine is not at the table. This principle is clear: No decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine," the secretary went on to say.<br/> <br />Kerry also said that the United States made clear it still considered Russian actions in Crimea to be "illegal and illegitimate."<br/> <br />He said he had also raised "strong concerns" about the presence of Russian troops on the Ukraine border, which he said created a climate of fear and intimidation.