Kerry heads to Geneva for Syria talks with Russian FM

Washington: Secretary of State John Kerry is heading to Geneva for yet another meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to try to forge a nationwide truce in Syria, improve humanitarian aid deliveries and restart peace talks.

The State Department said Kerry was departing on Thursday to see Lavrov on Friday. Yesterday, the Russian foreign ministry had announced the pair would meet on Thursday and Friday, but the State Department never confirmed two days of talks.

Since August 26, Kerry and Lavrov have met three times to discuss Syria once in Geneva and twice in Hangzhou, China. The State Department says they have spoken by phone four times in the past two days: three times yesterday and once today.