MOSCOW, July 17. /ITAR-TASS/. President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday, July 17, to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

“The leaders discussed some issues of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine,” the presidential press service said.

“The president of Russia also stressed that further development of mutually advantageous ties irrespective of the current political situation meets the interests of people” in Russia and Germany, the press service said.