US Secretary of State John Kerry has been meeting President Vladimir Putin during his first visit to Russia since the Ukraine crisis began in early 2014.
Earlier Mr Putin's spokesman called the meeting in Sochi a "positive step" and said the Russian leader was prepared for "extensive" discussions.
Mr Kerry has also met his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.
The West accuses Russia of arming rebels in eastern Ukraine and sending troops there - charges Moscow denies.
More than 6,000 people have been killed since fighting began in April 2014 between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed rebels in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
The conflict followed Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in southern Ukraine.
'Broader dialogue'
The Russian foreign minister and US secretary of state laid wreaths at a World War Two memorial earlier on Tuesday.
During their meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Mr Lavrov presented Mr Kerry with baskets of tomatoes and potatoes, according to the Russian foreign ministry. Mr Kerry gave Mr Lavrov two large Idaho potatoes in January 2014.
State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said Mr Kerry's trip was "part of our ongoing effort to maintain direct lines of communication with senior Russian officials and to ensure US views are clearly conveyed".
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised Mr Kerry's decision to travel to Russia, adding: "We are always open to showing a political will for a broader dialogue."
He said Russia was prepared to discuss international "hot spots" as well as bilateral relations, and that the issue of Western sanctions against Russia would not be raised by the Russian side.
