Kerry, Lavrov will try to meet in coming days: official

WASHINGTON

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov agreed Monday "to stay in close touch, and to look for an opportunity to meet, in the days ahead", a spokesperson has said.

"They discussed a range of issues, including the Syria political process, the fight against Daesh, Middle East regional issues, Ukraine, North Korea’s recent nuclear test, as well as the U.S.-Russia bilateral relationship,"

State Department spokesperson John Kirby said in a written statement.

The top diplomats last met in December during UN-endorsed International Syria Support Group (ISSG) talks where member states agreed on a timetable for a political transition in Syria.

The next ISSG negotiations will take place Jan. 25 in Geneva.

Kerry also met Monday with King Abdullah II of Jordan and was asked about how to ensure regular humanitarian access to towns like Madaya, Syria, where humanitarian assistance has been blocked, resulting in at least 23 deaths from starvation.

"We need full access. And that’s what we agreed on in the ISSG meeting in New York and the UN Security Council," Kerry said, according to State Department statement.

"And we’re raising it with all parties right now. We’re pressing for it very hard; it has to happen," he added.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said the meeting with King Abdullah, who began a U.S. visit Monday that will include audiences with other U.S. officials and lawmakers, was "good", and at the top of their agenda was "the coalition campaign against ISIL, the need for continued progress on a political solution in Syria and, of course, counterterrorism concerns”.

Kirby said the men signed a joint action plan to combat nuclear terrorism, at the end of the meeting.