US seeks common ground with Russsia on Syria, Ukraine

US Secretary of State John Kerry called on Tuesday for the United States and Russia to find “common ground” on contentious differences over ending Syria’s civil war and restoring stability in eastern Ukraine.

Opening talks in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov before seeing President Vladimir Putin, Kerry said the world benefits when great powers agree in their approaches to major crises.

“Even when there have been differences between us, we have been able to work effectively on specific issues,” Kerry said as he began a series of what are expected to be difficult discussions in the Russian capital. “On Tuesday, I hope we can find some common ground.”  Russia and the US are at odds over the mechanics of a political transition aimed at halting the war in Syria, as well as the military approach to fighting the Islamic State group.The results of on Tuesday’s meetings will determine whether or not a new international diplomatic conference on Syria will go ahead as planned at the United Nations on Friday. 

On Ukraine, the two countries are split over the implementation of a February agreement meant to end hostilities between the Kiev government and Russian-backed separatists in the east.