BREAKING: Vladimir Putin meets US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Moscow

VLADIMIR Putin has met with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Moscow.

By KATIE MANSFIEL
Express.co.uk
Wed, Apr 12, 2017

The US Embassy and the Kremlin confirmed the meeting follows days of uncertainty amid escalating tensions between the US and Russia over Syria.

The Kremlin had previously declined to confirm the a meeting would take place during Mr Tillerson’s visit, reflecting tensions over a US missile strike on Russian ally, Syria.

Days ago Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmity Peskov ruled out a meeting, suggesting Mr Tillerson would follow strict diplomatic protocol and only meet his direct counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

But in a stark u-turn US and Russian officials announced the talks shortly after 4.15pm BST as the meeting got underway.

Mr Putin said earlier today trust had eroded between the US and Russia under President Donald Trump.

The meeting is not the first time the men have met with Mr Tillerson granted an audience with the Russian President when he ran oil company Exxon Mobil.

The Rest…HERE

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