"Kerry spoke briefly with Lavrov this morning in advance of their meeting in London tomorrow. He provided an update on the constructive meetings Prime Minister Yatsenyuk had while he was in Washington," a Senior State Department official said.
"In addition, he reiterated the United States' concern about the upcoming referendum, and made clear there will be costs if Russia continues to take escalatory steps," the official said on condition on anonymity, as the White House reiterating that it is for a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian problem.
Carney's comments came ahead of a last attempt by Kerry to head off a confrontation over Crimea, which holds a vote on Sunday on whether to break off from Ukraine and perhaps join Russia. Kerry will meet Lavrov in London to discuss the matter.
"We're working very hard on an effort to make clear to the Russians that we understand they have concerns and interests in Ukraine, and making clear that there is a way for those concerns and interests to be addressed and protected through the utilisation of international monitors and through dialogue with the Ukrainian government," he said.