MOSCOW, June 06. /ITAR-TASS/. The situation in Ukraine and problems in relations between Russia and the European Union were in the focus of talks between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov and Portuguese Foreign Ministry's Director General for Foreign Policy Rui Macieira, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

“Meshkov and Macieira exchanged views on issues of European security, problems in relations between Russia and the European Union, the situation around Ukraine and other key problems of the international agenda that were of mutual interest,” the ministry said.

The sides “noted with satisfaction the high level of the Russian-Portuguese relations reached in the recent years and discussed further prospects for their development,” the ministry said. “The two diplomats touched upon issues of continuing the regular political dialogue, improving the legal framework of bilateral relations, enlivening cooperation in the trade-and-economic and investment spheres.