brussels u.s. secretary state rex tillerson say wednesday could normal relations russia moscow end support separatists ukraine return crimea comment likely reassure western ally speak dinner discuss russia nato foreign minister tuesday tillerson take tough stance u.s. president donald trump seek good relations russian president vladimir putin trump say last month meet putin vietnam believe putin denial accusations moscow meddle 2016 u.s. election despite u.s. intelligence agencies evidence russian interference nato tillerson criticize russia continue use hybrid warfare attempt undermine western institutions reference mix state-sponsored computer hack internet disinformation campaign nato ally intelligence agencies say target west stand significant obstacle normalize relations tillerson tell reporters nato dinner minister tillerson also blame russia interfere u.s. election say diplomat present russia deny meddle trump whose former aid investigate accusations putin influence election bring white house repeatedly emphasize would good russia unite state could work together tillerson former exxon mobil chief executive spend much time secretary state try smooth america first foreign policy alarm trump ally president publicly undercut secretary state diplomatic initiatives trip europe week partly overshadow report white house plan replace tillerson deny wednesday l8n1o63lc tillerson stress minister ukraine crisis spark moscow 2014 annexation crimea central issue block good u.s.-russia tie seize sovereign territory unacceptable accord second diplomat present conflict ukrainian force russian-backed separatists claim 10,000 live since erupt 2014. russia deny accusations foment conflict provide arm fighters people still die every day violence tillerson say tillerson 2013 head exxon mobil award order friendship putin russian state honor say hop agree deploy u.n. troop eastern ukraine idea russian president float september internationally-agreed ceasefire long break efforts revive 2015 peace deal stall peacekeepers could end hostilities allow trade resume russia ukraine tillerson warn still significant difference mandate peacekeeping force would give scope mandate hope close gap tillerson say russia keen see end western sanction impose ukraine crisis european officials fear u.n. peacekeepers would freeze conflict rather solve tillerson also caution treat russia partner say meet moscow base issue agree basis calendar quash hop detente moscow relations washington think broad consensus among nato members normalization dialogue russia today say tillerson take tough line russia open peacekeepers