MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. Contacts between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan are being prepared, but there is no meeting between the leaders on the schedule before the March elections in Russia, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"Before the elections, no. Before the elections, the [Russian] president's schedule is quite tight and quite tense. Yes, and Mr. Erdogan's is quite busy too. But preparations for high-level contacts are underway, and we have said this repeatedly. These contacts will take place, but at a time that best suits the schedules of the two presidents," the Kremlin spokesman said.

Erdogan turned 70 today, and Putin congratulated him over the phone. During the conversation, the leaders reaffirmed their mutual commitment to further comprehensive strengthening of relations between Russia and Turkey and agreed to continue contacts.