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| Rex Tillerson to meet Russian counterpart at G20 in Germany | Rex Tillerson to meet Russian counterpart at G20 in Germany |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Rex Tillerson is in Germany for a meeting with G20 leaders on his first foreign trip as US secretary of state. | Rex Tillerson is in Germany for a meeting with G20 leaders on his first foreign trip as US secretary of state. |
| Mr Tillerson is expected to confirm that the US remains committed to Nato, at the gathering of ministers in Bonn. | Mr Tillerson is expected to confirm that the US remains committed to Nato, at the gathering of ministers in Bonn. |
| He will also meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a time when US relations with Moscow are under the spotlight. | He will also meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a time when US relations with Moscow are under the spotlight. |
| Officials said the secretary of state's main intention was to listen to his G20 counterparts. | |
| While in Germany, Mr Tillerson will participate in a series of sessions on global issues ranging from conflict prevention to developing cooperation with Africa. | While in Germany, Mr Tillerson will participate in a series of sessions on global issues ranging from conflict prevention to developing cooperation with Africa. |
| Read more | Read more |
| However it is his meeting on Thursday with Mr Lavrov that will be watched most closely. | However it is his meeting on Thursday with Mr Lavrov that will be watched most closely. |
| Mr Tillerson is expected to seek "pragmatic and constructive cooperation in areas where our interests overlap," a US official told Reuters news agency. | Mr Tillerson is expected to seek "pragmatic and constructive cooperation in areas where our interests overlap," a US official told Reuters news agency. |
| Counterterrorism is one area that the US secretary of state is hoping to "develop some possible avenues for cooperation," the official said. | Counterterrorism is one area that the US secretary of state is hoping to "develop some possible avenues for cooperation," the official said. |
| Mr Lavrov is likely to use his time with Mr Tillerson to explore the significance of US President Donald Trump's repeated calls for improved relations with Russia. | Mr Lavrov is likely to use his time with Mr Tillerson to explore the significance of US President Donald Trump's repeated calls for improved relations with Russia. |
| But senior state department officials said that Mr Tillerson would not soften Washington's position on Russia's interventions in Ukraine, a crisis which remains unresolved. | But senior state department officials said that Mr Tillerson would not soften Washington's position on Russia's interventions in Ukraine, a crisis which remains unresolved. |
| They added that he would use the talks to urge the Kremlin to abide by its commitments in the Minsk peace agreement. | They added that he would use the talks to urge the Kremlin to abide by its commitments in the Minsk peace agreement. |
| Mr Tillerson will also meet the UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, with US officials saying he would support a pragmatic Brexit that resulted in a strong Britain, and a strong EU. | Mr Tillerson will also meet the UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, with US officials saying he would support a pragmatic Brexit that resulted in a strong Britain, and a strong EU. |
| The G20 is made up of developed economies and emerging nations including Russia, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa and Brazil. | The G20 is made up of developed economies and emerging nations including Russia, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa and Brazil. |
| The first task for ministers at the gathering in Germany will be to get Mr Tillerson to spell out exactly what Mr Trump's "America First" means in practice. | The first task for ministers at the gathering in Germany will be to get Mr Tillerson to spell out exactly what Mr Trump's "America First" means in practice. |