Sergey Lavrov

Representatives of Ukraine, the EU, Russia and the US are to discuss the situation in Eastern and Southern Ukraine in Thursday's meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.

The diplomatic effort is virtually under way, as Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya was reported to have met EU's High Representative on Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton.

Russia is ready to begin talks over Ukraine with the West and Kiev, its Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

Moscow could "consider a multilateral format in which Europeans, the US, Russia and the Ukrainian side are represented," Lavrov was quoted by ITAR-TASS agency as saying.

Moscow has recalled its military ambassador to NATO for consultations.

Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said that Russia "does not see how it could go on with usual cooperation with NATO," RIA Novosti has reported.

No decision on Ukraine's future could be taken without Kiev's involvement, US State Secretary John Kerry told Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

Lavrov has however ruled out Russia's recognition of the leadership in Kiev, which he once again described as "fascists", despite describing describing the conversation as "very constructive".

BELGRADE - Russian Ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Chepurin has conveyed Russia's position on the situation in Ukraine to Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic.

Chepurin met with Mrkic on Wednesday and conveyed a message from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Serbian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, but did not elaborate on the message.

FM receives EU representative, Russian ambassador

BELGRADE -- Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić had separate meetings on Wednesday with EU Delegation chief Michael Davenport and Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Chepurin.

The two diplomats informed the Serbian minister "about the stands of Brussels and Moscow," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that all the practicalities surrounding Crimea’s accession into the Russian Federation will be completed this week.

BELGRADE - Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic had separate talks on Wednesday with Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport and Russian Ambassador Alexander Chepurin, who informed him about the stands of Brussels and Moscow, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a release.

US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday in London to discuss the situation in Crimea.

The meeting will be a last attempt to bring the conflicting sides closer, ahead of Sunday's referendum on the future status of the autonomous Ukrainian peninsula, Euronews reports.

MOSCOW - Vuk Jeremic, president of the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD), has been on an official visit to Russia on Monday, where he conferred with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the Centre issued a release.