Russia yesterday set out demands for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in Ukraine, saying the former Soviet republic should be unified in a federation allowing wide autonomy to its various regions as US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov prepared to meet in Paris in another bid to calm tensions and resolve the crisis over Ukraine.

Appearing on Russian television ahead of his talks with Kerry, Lavrov rejected suspicions the deployment of tens of thousands of Russian troops near Ukraine is a sign Moscow plans to invade the country following its annexation of the strategic Crimean peninsula.

"We have absolutely no intention of, or interest in, crossing Ukraine's borders," Lavrov said.

Russia says the troops near the border are there for military exercises and that they have no plans to invade, but US and European officials say the numbers and locations of the troops suggest something more than exercises.

In his interview, Lavrov made clear that Moscow believes a federation is the only way to guarantee Ukraine's stability and neutrality.

"We can't see any other way to ensure the stable development of Ukraine but to sign a federal agreement," Lavrov said, adding that he understood the US was open to the idea.

US officials have been coy about their position on a federation and insist that any changes to Ukraine's governing structure must be acceptable to the Ukrainians.

Ukrainian officials are wary of decentralizing power but are now exploring political reforms that could grant more authority to local governments.

The plan that Kerry and Lavrov are to discuss covers Ukrainian political and constitutional reforms, as well as the disarmament of irregular forces, international monitors to protect minority rights and direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, according to US officials, who say it has backing of Ukraine's government.

The US and Europe have imposed sanctions on senior Russian officials in response.

Crimea's new Constitution likely to be adopted before April 10

Crimea's new Constitution which envisages the election of Head of the Republic by Members of Parliament and keeps the State Council's personnel-related powers intact will be adopted by the Crimean parliament, most likely, before April 10, with the holding of a referendum on the matter being out of question, Grigory Ioffe, head of the Constitution commission and First Deputy Speaker og the State Council of Crimea, told the newspaper Kommersant in an interview published Monday. >> More