Kerry to Putin: US Grateful to Russia for Cooperation on Syria

 MOSCOW  — US Secretary of State John Kerry told Russia’s President Vladimir Putin that Washington is grateful to Moscow for cooperation on Syria and appreciates the seriousness of the commitment in time and thought into the situation.

Russia and the United States could make a significant difference in Syria, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Earlier in the day, Kerry arrived in Moscow to meet Russian leadership to discuss a range of international issues, including a Syrian civil war, which broke out in 2011.

“With regard to Syria, Vienna-1 ad Vienna-2 were a strong beginning, opening up possibilities, and I think there is no question Foreign Minister [Sergei] Lavrov and I have agreed that together the United States and Russia have an ability to make a significant difference here,” Kerry said, according to the Russian Sputnik.

Russia and the United States are jointly searching for the solutions to the most complex crises, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.

“You know that we are searching, together with you, for the solutions to the most complex crises,” Putin told Kerry.

At the first round of the talks on Syrian settlement held in the Austrian capital of Vienna, international mediators worked out a nine-point plan on ending the Syrian conflict, including a definition of national unity, the need to defeat extremist groups and to provide assistance to refugees.

During the second round of the talks, mediators agreed to uphold the 2012 Geneva communique on finding a political solution to the Syrian conflict and set a six-month timeframe for Syria to form an interim unity government, while stipulating that elections in Syria should be held within 18 months.

According to RT, Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding talks with Secretary of State John Kerry at the Kremlin, following the US official’s talks with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, which the president said were “comprehensive.”

Russia and the US are seeking solutions to the most critical crises together, Putin said at the start of the meeting, adding that he “is happy for the opportunity to meet and talk.”

“Today you’ve had comprehensive talks at Russia’s Foreign Ministry,” Putin said to Kerry. “Minister Lavrov has reported to me in detail on your proposals and on some issues that require additional discussions. I’m very happy with the opportunity to meet with you and talk.”

Kerry thanked Moscow for cooperation on issues like the Syrian conflict, saying that Russia and the US can work together to make progress resolving the crisis.

“With regard to Syria, together the United States and Russia have the ability to make a significant difference,” he said.

US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland, the White House National Security Council’s senior director for Russia Celeste Wallander and US Ambassador to Russia John Tefft are also present at the Kremlin meeting. On Russia’s side, Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s aide Yury Ushakov are also in attendance.

Prior to the Kremlin meeting, Kerry was spotted wandering along the tourist hot-spot Arbat Street in central Moscow. The US Secretary of State did some souvenir shopping and was warmly welcomed by locals and fellow visitors who recognized him in the street.

“I want to wish that the Russian people and the American people are good friends and that our countries come together in peace,” Kerry said when chatting to a group of people.

M.A.