KIEV: Diplomatic efforts to calm the Ukraine crisis inched forward Monday, with Moscow saying it would consider Western proposals for talks on the standoff but insisting Crimea had the right to secede.

Britain said Russian President Vladimir Putin had promised to meet with his foreign minister Monday to discuss the possibility of creating an 'international contact group' -- his first indication he may be willing to take part in the talks being pushed by the US and Germany to ease the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War.