Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced continued contacts between Moscow and Kiev, despite apparent disagreements between the two sides.

“We had agreed that we would continue contacts after the exchanges and after the completion of the humanitarian action we proposed. I am referring to the return of the bodies of the fallen soldiers,” Putin said, clarifying that this was a priority for the Russian side.

The Russian president was also asked about the conflicting positions contained in the two sides’ memos, noting that the divergence between them was expected. “As expected, there was nothing unexpected. These are two completely opposite memos. I can’t tell you anything surprising,” Putin commented.

However, he stressed that the negotiation process does not lose its importance, as the purpose is to identify points of convergence. “Negotiations are organized and conducted to seek ways of rapprochement. The fact that the texts are diametrically opposed does not seem to me surprising at all,” he added.