U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the U.S. and Russia share common interests in Syria, and that the two countries ought to work more closely to help end the bloodshed in the Arab country that has killed more than 70,000 people, Reuters reported.
"The United States believe that we share some very significant common interests with respect to Syria - stability in the region, not have extremists creating problems throughout the region and elsewhere," Kerry said.
Kerry reiterated President Obama belief that Russia and the U.S. could cooperate 'significantly' on all foreign policy issues, including North Korea, Iran and economic ties, which both sides say have not lived up their potential.
Kerry's visit comes as America mulls whether to arm the Syrian rebels, as the the potential evidence of chemical weapon attacks were used by President Assad's forces. Obama has previously said that it would be considered a 'game changer.'
Over the weekend, Israel struck Syrian targets containing Iranian missiles bound for Hezbollah.
Kerry also thanked Putin for Russia's cooperation on the Boston Marathon bombing investigation.
"It is my hope that today we'll be able to dig into that a little bit and see if we can find some common ground," Kerry said going into the talks.
Putin, through an interpreter, said that he looked forward to working together with U.S. leader on the problems of today, news reports said.
Russia, alongside China, has blocked U.S.-led efforts three times at the United Nations to pressure Assad into stepping down.
"We have consistently, in our conversations with the Russians and others, pointed clearly to Assad's behavior as proof that further support for the regime is not in the interest of the Syrian people or in the interest of the countries that have in the past supported Assad," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
After visiting Moscow for the first time since he became secretary of state, Kerry will travel to Rome for talks with members of the new Italian government, as well as meetings with Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh to discuss the potential for peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians..
