The high-level diplomatic talks between the United States and Russia, aimed at improving relations, are due to begin next week. <br/><br/>US State Department said in a statement that Under Secretary for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon will travel to New York on Monday to meet Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov to discuss a range of bilateral issues. <br/><br/>It said, the meeting will mark the start of a dialogue that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov agreed to last month in Moscow.