Ukraine crisis: William Hague wants 'a diplomatic way forward'

US Secretary of State John Kerry is due to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the Ukraine crisis in London on Friday.

There are fears that Moscow is attempting to annex the mainly ethnic Russian autonomous region of Crimea.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has called for the referendum to be abandoned, warning that EU sanctions would be stepped up if there is no progress in the "next few days".

He said the emphasis for the talks in London on Friday "is to do everything possible to find a diplomatic way forward".