AKIPRESS.COM - US Secretary of State John Kerry is to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during his first visit to Russia since the Ukraine crisis began in early 2014, reports BBC.

Mr Putin's spokesman called the visit a "positive step" and said the Russian leader was prepared for "extensive" discussions at the meeting in Sochi.

Mr Kerry is also meeting his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

The West accuses Russia of arming rebels in eastern Ukraine and sending troops there - charges Moscow denies.

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.

The conflict followed Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in southern Ukraine.