US, Russian Foreign Ministers to Hold Talks

Local Editor

US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet in Sochi on Tuesday with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, for talks on ongoing unrest in Ukraine, Syria and Yemen.

A diplomatic source declared that the Kremlin hoped Kerry would bring new proposals on reaching a settlement in Ukraine.

However, there was no immediate confirmation from the State Department on the trip to Russia, although Kerry had made it clear for several months he'd like to go. The last time he visited Russia was May 2013.

Ukraine continued to be embroiled in sporadic conflict despite a cease-fire sealed in mid-February.

Though, Western nations had accused Russia of supporting separatist rebels in Ukraine with arms and manpower - a claim that Moscow had denied.

Further, Russia had bristled at recent efforts by Washington to provide Ukraine with training for its troops, calling it a destabilizing policy.

Nonetheless, an unnamed official stated that the issue of US military assistance to Ukraine would be raised at the meeting in Sochi.

During a visit to Moscow on Sunday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Russia to use its influence to persuade separatists in Ukraine to abide by the oft-violated cease-fire.

Though, Russia had stuck firmly to the line that the Ukrainian government retained the bulk of responsibility for bringing about a settlement.

"We will use all the influence we have on the leadership in Donetsk and Luhansk to ensure the process proceeds at the required pace and attains the necessary level," Russian Vladimir Putin told Merkel on Sunday.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team