"Our position on the war in Iraq is well known," a foreign ministry statement quoted Ivanov as saying on his arrival to Brussels for the first top-level Russia-US meeting since the March 20 start of the war scheduled for Thursday.

"We still think that this war could have -- and should have been averted," said Ivanov.

"Especially if one takes into account their tragic consequences being suffered by Iraqi civilians."

Ivanov added that he would press Powell to turn back to the United Nations in order to find a way out of war.

"Right now, the main goal for the global community is to find a way out of this predicament," he said.

At the same time Ivanov said he was ready to hold a "constructive dialogue" with both Powell and visiting Foreign Secretary Jack Straw despite their disagreements with Iraq.

"We are prepared for a constructive dialoue, especially since Iraq is not the only subject on the agenda," Ivanov said. "We plan to discuss the whole range of Russia-US and Russia-British relations."

He said those ties were in the "long-term interests" of the three countries.

Powell was in Brussels to meet with European Union leaders and visit NATO headquarters.

Moscow has opposed the US-led strikes, arguing that all diplomatic means of disarming Iraq had not been exhausted.

It has described as a "serious mistake" the US decision to intervene militarily in Iraq without securing the approval of the UN Security Council.

SPACE.WIRE