Kerry will meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Rome
Ryabkov said that the main focus at their 17th meeting this year would be on the Middle East.
MOSCOW (AFP) - Top US diplomat John Kerry will meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Rome on Sunday amid a toughening American response to a Kremlin-backed separatist insurgency in Ukraine.
Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said Saturday that "an agreement has been reached on a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry in Rome on Sunday," cited by Interfax.
The Russian foreign ministry also confirmed the meeting on its Twitter feed.
Ryabkov said that "the main focus at their 17th meeting this year would be on the Middle East."
State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said Friday that the pair would discuss the Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations, as well as the crises in Ukraine and in Syria, where the United States and its partners are battling the Islamic State extremist group.
The announcement came a day after US lawmakers defied President Barack Obama and approved fresh economic sanctions against Russia.
The legislation also authorizes -- but does not legally require -- Obama to provide $350 million worth of lethal and non-lethal military aid to Ukraine, including anti-tank weapons, ammunition and "tactical troop-operated surveillance drones."
Ryabkov said he expected Lavrov to raise the US bill with Kerry in Rome.
"We see the passing by both houses the above legislative act as yet another demonstration of anti-Russian moods and attempts to dictate decisions to us that for us are categorically unacceptable," Ryabkov said.
Earlier Friday, Kerry telephoned Lavrov to discuss "recent developments" in Israel, the West Bank, Jerusalem and the region, along with initiatives at the United Nations, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
Kerry said he hoped to head off an end-of-year showdown at the United Nations over Palestinian statehood in meetings next week in Europe.
The Palestinians are carrying out a major campaign aiming to submit to the UN Security Council a draft resolution setting out a two- or three-year timetable for an end to Israeli occupation.
Russia and the United States both hold veto power at the UN Security Council.
Washington backs Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, but Obama has yet to approve the bulk of an arms request by Kiev.
The sanctions bill was passed unanimously Thursday in the Senate and House of Representatives.
Moscow is concerned at what it sees as NATO extending its reach along Russia s western border.
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of sending regular troops to back separatists in eastern Ukraine in a conflict that has claimed more than 4,300 lives since it broke out in April.
Russia denies the accusations despite a wealth of evidence.
