MOSCOW. Feb 17 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida over the phone at Japan's initiative, the Kremlin press service said on Thursday.
"In view of the Japanese prime minister's interest, the Russian president briefed him in detail on the work being done with the United States and its NATO allies to promote the initiative to elaborate long-term legal guarantees for Russia's security," the statement said.
"Additionally, Vladimir Putin spoke in detail about the origins and causes of the internal Ukrainian conflict, outlining Russia's essential approaches to its settlement in accordance with the Minsk Package of Measures and the decisions taken in the Normandy format," the press service said.
A number of topical issues of Russian-Japanese relations were discussed, it said. A mutual interest in their constructive development based on existing agreements, including in the trade and economic area, was confirmed. The two leaders agreed to continue contacts.