The US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Russia for talks with President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that are expected to focus on the crises in Ukraine and Syria.
Kerry has flown to the Black Sea resort of Sochi for the highest-level U.S. visit to Russia in two years, to discuss issues including the Iran nuclear talks, Yemen and Libya.
The 71-year-old laid a wreath at a Second World War memorial before travelling to the talks.
The West accuses Russia of arming rebels in eastern Ukraine and sending troops there - charges Moscow denies.
Media reports say; more than 6,000 people have been killed since fighting began in April 2014 between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed rebels in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions
