U.S. Assistant Secretary Of State Nuland In Russia

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland (file photo)

The U.S. State Department says Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland is in Moscow on May 17-18 to meet with senior Russian government officials to discuss next steps in the implementation of the Minsk agreement.

A May 16 statement said Nuland is visiting Moscow "following her May 14-16 visit to Kyiv, Ukraine and [U.S.] Secretary [of State John] Kerry's May 12 meetings in Sochi, Russia. She will also discuss bilateral issues with Russian officials, and meet with civil society representatives.'

Kerry discussed the Ukraine crisis in Sochi last week with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Veteran human rights campaigner Lyudmila Alexeeva told the Interfax news agency on May 17 that she would meet with Nuland on May 18.
With additional reporting by Interfax