Putin welcomed Kerry yesterday in the presidential summer residence of Bocharov Ruchei (Bocharov Stream), in the resort of Sochi, in the Black Sea, and along with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other members of the two delegations held talks for about four hours.

Regarding the sanctions, it was discussed during the meeting, but not by the Russian side, since it remains a matter outside our agenda, said Peskov.

In this regard, Kerry said the United States and the European Union would lift the sanctions against Moscow only in case of a full implementation of the Minsk agreements, signed in February by the parties in conflict, with Germany, France and Russia as guarantor countries. Moscow made it clear that it is not part of the Ukrainian crisis.

When such agreements are made in full, it will be clear then that the suspension of sanctions will begin, said Kerry, reaffirming the position of Washington and its allies about the situation in Ukraine, and what the West interprets as Russia's role in the settlement of the internal conflict in the neighboring country.

Kerry said that the White House insists on the full implementation of the compromises of Minsk, "as the best and main road to peace," recognizing that there are still contradictions between Moscow and Washington concerning a number of details, he said without specifying.

He did not mention the repeated calls from Russia to the West, particularly to the United States and the 'guarantor' countries (Germany and France) to influence on the Ukrainian authorities in the fulfillment of the commitments Kiev contracted upon signing the document of over ten points with the representatives of the rebel republics of Donbass.

After leaving Sochi, Kerry headed for Turkey to attend the summit of heads of diplomacy of the member states of NATO, in the city of Belek, where he reaffirmed that the sanctions against Russia "are necessary to ensure peace in Ukraine."

Meanwhile, in the Kremlin the meeting of Putin and Kerry was perceived - after two years of his absence from Russia - as a first step of understanding regarding the need to resume cooperation between two countries, said the presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.

Kerry visited Moscow on May 7th and 8th, 2013, when he was received by President Putin. In February this year a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was to be held, which was canceled at the last minute amid the tense atmosphere with the West and a fierce anti-Russian campaign.

{flike} {plusone} {ttweet}