MOSCOW, January 31. /TASS/. The Russian and US presidents, Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, in their first phone conversation confirmed very deep differences that require a rather intensive dialogue, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Moscow. Kremlin. Putin program on Rossiya-1 TV channel.

"<…> The sides clearly confirmed that there are very deep differences but agreed that the presence of these differences should not mean the lack of dialogue and on the contrary these differences demand a rather intensive dialogue between the two countries," Peskov said.

According to him, the January 26 phone conversation between the two leaders was business-like and pragmatic.

As an example of these disagreements, Peskov named the stance on Ukraine. After the phone conversation, the Kremlin press service used the term "inter-Ukrainian settlement," whereas White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki mentioned "Russia's ongoing aggression" against Ukraine. "This is the position of the United States of America, which we strongly oppose," Peskov stressed. "This is one of conceptual differences, which are on the agenda of our relations now." In regard to this discord, Russia and President Putin will keep consistently explaining the convinced position to the other party, he said.

According to Peskov, Russia initiated the phone conversation "literally a few days" after Biden’s inauguration on January 20.

The phone conversation between Putin and Biden was held on January 26 and lasted for more than 35 minutes. The leaders expressed satisfaction over the exchange of diplomatic notes on extending New START between the two countries. They also discussed pressing bilateral and international issues, including cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and other areas, namely trade and economy.