Russia seeks 'productive talks' with US amid Tillerson visit

Russia's Foreign Ministry has hoped for "productive talks" with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as he arrives Moscow in his first visit.

The ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that the outcome of the talks was important not only for the Russia-US ties but "for the overall atmosphere on the world stage."

Tillerson landed in Moscow later on Tuesday. He is planned to meet with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The US diplomat is also likely to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin has declined to say whether President Putin would meet with Tillerson.

During the visit, the US secretary of state will reportedly persuade Russia to abandon Syria, which has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011.

The visit comes several days after a chemical attack in Syria and a US missile strike on a Syrian army base. Moscow has already dismissed the strike as "an act of aggression."

Tillerson had earlier acknowledged that Russia can play a role in Syria's future.

Tillerson recently said Russia must choose between the United States and the administration of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

SS