Kerry To Visit Russia Next Week For Syria Talks

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (left) says he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) with an eye toward pushing Syrian peace talks forward. (file photo)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said he would travel to Moscow next week to discuss Russia's withdrawal of forces from Syria and the political transition process in the country.

Kerry said on March 15 that he will meet with President Vladimir Putin with an eye toward pushing peace talks forward, saying "we have reached a very important phase in this process."

"The possibility of U.S. Secretary of State Kerry's visit to Moscow is being worked at," Russia's Foreign Ministry said.

Earlier, Russia began the withdrawal of military assets from Syria following an order by Putin as internationally brokered talks entered a second day in Geneva in a bid to reach a political resolution to Syria's five-year war.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP