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Rex Tillerson to discuss Ukraine, Syria, nukes in 1st official Russia visit next week

In this photo taken Thursday, June 21, 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin presents ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson with a Russian medal at an award ceremony of heads and employees of energy companies at the St. Petersburg economic forum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Tillerson, now U.S. secretary of state, will travel to Moscow next week.
In this photo taken Thursday, June 21, 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin presents ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson with a Russian medal at an award ceremony of heads and employees of energy companies at the St. Petersburg economic forum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Tillerson, now U.S. secretary of state, will travel to Moscow next week. Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

MOSCOW – Russia‘s Foreign Ministry says Moscow hopes that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson‘s visit next week will help improve bilateral ties.

The ministry said Tillerson is scheduled to arrive on a two-day visit next Tuesday. It said Tillerson’s talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will focus on the fight against terrorism, various regional conflicts and nuclear arms control.

WATCH: Pre-emptive force an option with North Korea, Rex Tillerson says

Click to play video: 'China urges US to remain ‘coolheaded’ with North Korea'
China urges US to remain ‘coolheaded’ with North Korea

In Wednesday’s statement, the ministry blamed Barack Obama’s administration for a “deep crisis” in Russia-U.S. ties, adding that Russia welcomes the new U.S. leadership’s declared intention to change the situation for the better.

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The Kremlin has been encouraged by President Donald Trump’s promises to improve relations, but hopes for a thaw have been dashed by the Congressional investigation of possible links between his campaign and Russia.

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