"The situation in Ukraine…will continue to be, I think, dominant on his [Kerry’s] agenda," Kirby told reporters.
In addition to the Ukrainian crisis, the situation in Europe and the fight against the Islamic State will also rank high on the secretary’s priority list.
Kirby said the State Department would not provide a list of recommended priorities to US President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team.
On November 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump in a phone call discussed the issue of Ukraine to a small extent, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said Thursday.
Relations between Russia and the United States were soured in 2014 by Crimea's decision to leave Ukraine and a war in the country’s east Washington has blamed on Moscow.
The United States imposed economic sanctions on Russia, supported by the European Union and their allies. Russian officials have repeatedly denied unsubstantiated allegations of interfering in Ukraine’s internal affairs.
