AFP GETTY/ EPA Vladimir Putin meets US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Moscow

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The US Embassy and the Kremlin confirmed the meeting follows days of uncertainty amid escalating tensions between the US and Russia over Syria. The Kremlin had previously declined to confirm the a meeting would take place during Mr Tillerson's visit, reflecting tensions over a US missile strike on Russian ally, Syria. Days ago Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmity Peskov ruled out a meeting, suggesting Mr Tillerson would follow strict diplomatic protocol and only meet his direct counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is receiving US Secretary of State Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov in the Kremlin Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov

But in a stark u-turn US and Russian officials announced the talks shortly after 4.15pm BST as the meeting got underway. Spokesman Mr Peskov said: “Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is receiving US Secretary of State Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov in the Kremlin.” Mr Putin said earlier today trust had eroded between the US and Russia under President Donald Trump. The meeting is not the first time the men have met with Mr Tillerson granted an audience with the Russian President when he ran oil company Exxon Mobil.

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The pair were so friendly Mr Tillerson was given the Russian state’s Order of Friendship award in 2013. Mr Tillerson started the crucial meeting with Mr Putin in the Kremlin after talking to his Russian opposite number Sergei Lavrov for around three hours. In opening remarks in front of reporters, Mr Lavrov greeted Mr Tillerson with unusually icy remarks, denouncing the missile strike on Syria as illegal and accusing Washington of behaving unpredictably.

He said: “I won't hide the fact that we have a lot of questions, taking into account the extremely ambiguous and sometimes contradictory ideas which have been expressed in Washington across the whole spectrum of bilateral and multilateral affairs. “And of course, that's not to mention that apart from the statements, we observed very recently the extremely worrying actions, when an illegal attack against Syria was undertaken.” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russia's state-owned RIA news agency: “In general, primitiveness and loutishness are very characteristic of the current rhetoric coming out of Washington. We'll hope that this doesn't become the substance of American policy.

EPA Mr Tillerson said he looks forward to a "open, candid, frank exchange" with Russia

EPA Tense talks: Russian Foreign Secretary Sergei Lavrov meets US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson