MOSCOW, August 29, /ITAR-TASS/. President Vladimir Putin and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Friday discussed joint steps after talks in Minsk between Russia, Ukraine and the EU this week, the presidential press service said.

In a telephone conversation, Putin and Barroso discussed further joint steps in the light of Ukraine’s Association Agreement with the European Union and the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine to Europe.

A political settlement in Ukraine and the ratification of its Association Agreement with the EU will be among the topics to be discussed at the EU summit in Brussels on August 30.