MOSCOW, July 14 /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said opening his meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday evening that he hoped that Russia and the United States would make progress at the forthcoming talks.

Putin asked Kerry to convey his best greetings to US President Barack Obama and expressed the hope that Kerry would be able to tell the White House chief that the two countries had made progress on issues, which they had discussed.

"To report that we advanced in the discussion and solution of problems because of which we had gathered here," the Russian president said.

"I would like to emphasize our reciprocal efforts to settle conflicts, which we believe are important and solvable," Putin told Kerry as he welcomed him to Moscow.