Kerry says conversation with Putin was substantive
MOSCOW. May 7 (Interfax) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry praises his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday.
Meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later in the day, Kerry said he was grateful to Putin for receiving him and for having a substantive conversation with him.
He also thanked Foreign Minister Lavrov for hospitality and for his serious approach to a number of critical issues that are important to both countries.
Kerry admitted that Moscow and Washington have significant differences on some issues. Nevertheless, regarding some truly important issues having global significance, such as START, WTO, Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan, cooperation between the U.S. and Russia has been outstanding, he said.
U.S. President Barack Obama is looking forward to meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the G8 summit in Northern Ireland, he said.
Kerry said he arrived in Moscow to convey President Obama's conviction that the U.S. and Russia can cooperate on a number of important issues, such as settlement efforts in the Middle East and in Syria.