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It would be Kerry's first visit to Russia since the start of
the conflict in Ukraine, during which ties between Washington
and Moscow have plunged to their worst level since the Cold War.
"Talks (on arranging a Kerry visit) have been going on for
weeks," one diplomatic source told Reuters, adding that the
visit could take place "in the coming days or weeks."
Russian newspaper Kommersant quoted unnamed sources on Friday as
saying Kerry would visit Moscow for talks with Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov on Feb. 4-5.
The United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions
in Russia over its annexation of the Crimea peninsula from
Ukraine and its support for separatists fighting government
forces in eastern Ukraine. The EU decided to extend is current
sanctions on Thursday.
Washington accuses Russia of sending troops and weapons to
eastern Ukraine, a charge which Moscow denies. Russia says the
West was behind the overthrow of a Ukrainian president backed by
Moscow, an accusation denied by Washington and Brussels.
(Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
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