Russia, UK prepare ground for British foreign minister's visit

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson speaks during a news briefing after a meeting with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and Poland's Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski in Kiev, Ukraine, March 1, 2017. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia and Britain discussed relations between the two countries and preparations for a visit by British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to Moscow, Russia's foreign ministry said on Saturday. Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov met Britain's Minister for Europe and the Americas Alan Duncan on Friday to discuss bilateral relations which had "significantly deteriorated in recent years", the ministry said in a statement. The two had talked about the situation in Ukraine, Syria, fighting international terrorism and other issues, it added. The Russian foreign ministry statement did not say when Johnson would visit Moscow. (Reporting by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Alexander Smith)