Is the bromance between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov powerful enough to mend their countries' fractured relationship?
With tensions between the U.S. and Russia higher now that at any other time since the Cold War, that's the question some were asking as images of their meeting in Sochi, Russia on Tuesday made their way onto the Internet.
Lavrov presented his American counterpart with a "Victory" T-shirt so he won't forget about the Soviet defeat over the Nazis in WWII.
Kerry will also take home a T-shirt with symbols of Victory/ А еще Дж.Керри увезет домой футболку с символикой Победы pic.twitter.com/p3aXzUur2W— MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) May 12, 2015
Kerry touched down in the Black Sea resort city early in the day local time for a new round of talks with Lavrov over the conflict in Ukraine as well as discussions about the war in Syria and relations with Iran.
Wheels down in #Sochi. Full day of meetings with President Putin, FM Lavrov & other Russian leaders on a number of critical issues.— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) May 12, 2015
Kerry, who was set to meet with President Vladimir Putin later in the afternoon, joined Lavrov for a stroll through a memorial garden where he paid respects to those who defeated Nazi Germany in World War II, a war known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War.
Russia celebrated the 70th anniversary of the end of the war with a grandiose military parade in Moscow on May 9.
Made a visit to #Zavokzalny War Memorial with FM #Lavrov to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice during #WWII. pic.twitter.com/PR1c1W7j0V— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) May 12, 2015
Following their stroll in sunny Sochi, Kerry and Lavrov made their way indoors with their entourages to get down to business, but not before exchanging gifts.
In addition to the T-shirt, Lavrov gave Kerry baskets of locally-sourced tomatoes, which he called the Idaho potato's "best friend."
Sochi Tomato is Idaho Potato's best friend / Дары Краснодарского края едут в Америку pic.twitter.com/ifFddu6dOv— MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) May 12, 2015
The joke has its roots in a meeting between the two diplomats last year, when Kerry gifted Idaho spuds to Lavrov.
Необычная история с картошкой имеет свои корни в подарке Лаврову от Керри в Январе 2014. pic.twitter.com/DnRxKe00S5— Will Stevens (@WBStevens) May 12, 2015
In return for the tomatoes and the T-Shirt, Kerry offered a pointed gift: a list of clippings from Russian media that he felt "do not reflect the real potential of U.S.-Russia relations, which, in his opinion, need to be improved," according to one Russian Foreign Ministry official.
He also gave Lavrov a briefcase.
Мария Захарова возможно спутала подарки. Вот настоящий подарок от Керри - портфель. pic.twitter.com/p27byAzAfq— Will Stevens (@WBStevens) May 12, 2015
The two men then took in the view following the meeting.
After talks #Lavrov, #Kerry, Ryabkov, Sherman #Sochi / После переговоров С.Лавров, Дж.Керри, С.Рябков, В.Шерман #Сочи pic.twitter.com/mVN0MDJ5H4— MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) May 12, 2015
After four hours together, Kerry and Lavrov then went to see Putin.
Kerry is trying to convince Putin to help end the war in Syria and withdraw Russia's support of President Bashar al-Assad.
The Ukraine conflict was also on the table. Despite a second ceasefire agreement hashed out in February, fighting continues to rage in the country's eastern regions. Washington has repeatedly blamed Moscow for fomenting the violence that has killed more than 6,000 people since April 2014, and for supporting the separatist rebels with regular soldiers, weapons and money.
The Kremlin has vehemently denied involvement, despite mounting evidence to the contrary.