US Secretary of State John Kerry has begun talks with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Paris to try to resolve the crisis in Ukraine.
The US wants independent observers in the flashpoint region of Crimea and direct talks between Kiev and Moscow.
Russia is likely to call for greater representation for Ukraine's Russian-speaking areas in the Kiev government.
The EU earlier offered 11bn euros ($15bn; £9bn) in aid to Ukraine and froze the assets of 18 Ukrainians.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the package of loans and grants over the next couple of years was "designed to assist a committed, inclusive and reforms-oriented government" in Kiev.
Ukraine's finance ministry has predicted it needs $35bn to rescue its economy.
In other developments in Ukraine:
- The national flag is once again flying over the administrative headquarters in Donetsk, replacing the Russian flag hoisted there five days ago. The building was evacuated after an apparent bomb threat
- In Crimea, pro-Russian demonstrators have turned away families bringing food and supplies to Ukrainian troops refusing to surrender their bases
- Russian forces have seized two Ukrainian missile-defence sites in Crimea, according to unconfirmed reports
Nato and Russia are also due to hold parallel talks in Brussels.
The Paris gathering is being seen above all as a chance to test the waters for a dialogue about Ukraine, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall.
But UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Russians had already failed to appear at one meeting with the Ukrainians in Paris so he was "not optimistic" of making progress later.
"If we cannot make progress on that course there will be costs and consequences," he said, in reference to a threat of sanctions by the US and EU.
Mourners at Kiev's Independence Square remember the 88 protesters who died in clashes with police
Earlier, Mr Lavrov underlined Moscow's differences with Western nations, accusing them of setting a bad example by supporting protesters - some of whom now make up the government - in their "armed coup d'etat".
Russian FM Sergei Lavrov accused protesters of conducting an "armed coup-d'etat"
This agreement included constitutional reform that would fully take into account the interests of all regions of Ukraine - giving the Russian-speaking areas in the east more influence and greater legal protection.
This, says the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow, would give Russia more leverage over the future direction of Ukraine.
Moscow has strongly condemned the recent change of government in Ukraine, which came after months of street protests, more than 90 deaths and the flight of President Yanukovych, a Russian ally.
Since his fall, Moscow has retained de facto control of Ukraine's southern autonomous region of Crimea.
Pro-Russian troops in unmarked uniforms began taking control of strategic points on Saturday.
Troops are surrounding Ukrainian military bases and other installations, while two Ukrainian warships are reported to be blocked by a Russian ship in Sevastopol's harbour.
Posted By :: Muhammad Usman
Source::BBC
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