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MOSCOW / AP
Russia voiced hope on Wednesday that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s planned visit next week will help improve relations between the former Cold War foes.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Tillerson’s talks next on Wednesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will focus on the fight against terrorism, various regional conflicts including Syria and Ukraine, tensions around North Korea and nuclear arms control.
The US State Department said Tillerson will meet with Lavrov and other Russian officials to “discuss Ukraine, counterterrorism efforts, bilateral relations and other issues, including the DPRK (North Korea) and Syria.” “This trip is part of our effort to maintain direct lines of communication with senior Russian officials and to ensure US views are clearly conveyed, including on next steps in Minsk implementation,” the department said, referring to a 2015 Minsk peace agreement for eastern Ukraine.
The Russian Foreign Ministry blamed Barack Obama’s administration for a “deep crisis” in Russia-US relations and said Russia welcomes the Trump administration’s declared intention to mend the rift.