MOSCOW, January 22. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the need to cease the bloodshed in Syria as soon as possible and improve an inter-Syrian dialogue in order to work out a common vision on the future of Syria as a united, independent, democratic and secular state, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported on Wednesday.

Lavrov and Kerry met within ending preparations for the Geneva II Peace Conference on the peaceful settlement in Syria, the ministry said.

“The parties exchanged views on prospects for promoting the Palestinian-Israeli talks and stabilizing the situation in the Middle East,” the ministry said.