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SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry has been meeting today with Russian President Vladimir Putin -- part of an effort to ease relations that have been badly strained over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.
On his first trip to Russia since the Ukraine crisis began, Kerry held more than four hours of talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a hotel in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, before seeing Putin at his presidential residence there.
Kerry arrived in Sochi hoping to test Russia's willingness to make pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine comply with a cease-fire agreement that has become increasingly fragile.
He's also looking to gauge the status of Russian support for embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose forces have been losing ground to rebels. Officials said Kerry would push Moscow to support a political transition that could end that war.
Kerry began his visit to Sochi by laying a wreath at a World War II memorial with Lavrov. He and the Russian foreign minister have had a warm personal relationship despite tensions over policy.
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156-r-25-(Sound of Secretary of State John Kerry greeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, at beginning of meeting)--Sound of Secretary of State John Kerry greeting Russian President Vladimir Putin at beginning of their meeting. (12 May 2015)
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015-w-34-(Sagar Meghani (SAH'-gur meh-GAH'-nee), AP national security correspondent, with acting State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf)--Secretary of State John Kerry is in Russia today for the first time since the Ukraine crisis began. AP National Security Correspondent Sagar Meghani reports from the Pentagon. (12 May 2015)
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APPHOTO XAZ131: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Bocharov Ruchei residence in Sochi, Russia, Tuesday May 12, 2015. (Alexei Nikolsky/RIA-Novosti, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) (12 May 2015)
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APPHOTO WAS707: U.S Secretary of State John Kerry, right, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, watch as members of the United States and Russian delegations place red flowers at the Zakovkzalny War Memorial in Sochi, Russia, Tuesday May 12, 2015. Kerry is in Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin with an eye on easing badly strained relations over conflicts in Ukraine and Syria. (Joshua Roberts/Pool Photo via AP) (12 May 2015)
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