US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held four hours of “frank” talks in Paris about the crisis in Ukraine.  There was no solution to what has essentially become a standoff between Russia and the major world powers.

“The US and Russia have differences of opinion on the events that led to this crisis – but both of us recognize the importance of finding a diplomatic solution,” Kerry said after the meeting, which was quickly arranged in a phone call placed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to US President Barack Obama.

Lavrov is advocating breaking Ukraine to pieces, saying it can't function as a “unified state” and should be a loose federation of regions that choose their own economic model, language, and religion (actually, freedom of religion or none whatsoever would be a good thing, too, Sergei).

Kerry is not going for that at all, maintaining that Ukraine is a nation and that Kiev must be involved in all decisions on Ukraine’s future.  He also says Russia should pull back the thousands of troops it has massed just across the border from Ukraine.

“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,” Kerry said, adding that Russia’s takeover of the Crimean Peninsula is “illegal and illegitimate”.