US Secretary of State to meet with Russian president

John Kerry, the United States Secretary of State is set to meet with Russian president, Vladmir Putin for the first time since the crisis in Ukraine in early 2014.

In a statement from Putin's spokesman, the visit was lauded as a "positive step", adding that the Russian leader was prepared for "extensive" discussions at the meeting in Sochi.

Kerry is also set to meet with the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov.

US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said Kerry's trip was "part of our ongoing effort to maintain direct lines of communication with senior Russian officials and to ensure US views are clearly conveyed".

While, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in turn praised Kerry's decision to travel to Russia, saying:

"We are always open to showing a political will for a broader dialogue. Through dialogue, it is possible to look for paths to a certain normalisation, to a closer co-ordination in decisions."

Ahead of the meeting, Russia is prepared to discuss international "hot spots" as well as bilateral relations, the issue of Western sanctions against Russia would also not be raised by the Russian side, Peskov assured.

Relations between Russia and the West have taken a turn for the worse in recent times following Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in southern Ukraine, which led to a full on fight in which over 6,000 people have been killed.

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