VIENNA, September 08./ITAR-TASS/. The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss President Didier Burkhalter said on Monday he is ready to promote a direct dialogue between Russian and Ukrainian Presidents Vladimir Putin and Petr Poroshenko if other formats of the Ukrainian crisis settlement are insufficient.

"If current formats are not sufficient, and if there is a need in promoting a direct dialogue between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, Switzerland as the OSCE Chairmanship will be ready to do it," said Burkhalter told ITAR-TASS. He underlined that he was ready to use "shuttle diplomacy" between Moscow and Kiev in order to make this format possible.

Burkhalter referred to a speech he delivered on September 5 at the NATO summit in Newport. "The Swiss Chairmanship also strongly supports, and stands ready to host, diplomatic efforts at the highest levels to facilitate transition towards a political process", he told the summit. "Ongoing dialogue between the Presidents of Ukraine and Russia is the best chance we have for settling this crisis", he added.