Draft memorandums by the sides on settling the conflict should be discussed at the next round of talks, the president has said

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow is prepared for a third round of negotiations with Kiev, adding that the talks should center on proposed agreements to resolve the Ukraine conflict.

The president made the remarks on Friday in Minsk, following a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. Asked by reporters how the settlement process was progressing - and when a third round of talks with Ukraine might take place - Putin said the heads of both negotiating teams remain in constant contact, speaking regularly by phone.

He added that draft proposals from both Russia and Ukraine should form the basis of the next round of negotiations, the time and venue for which still need to be agreed on.

"These are two completely opposing documents. But that's exactly what negotiations are for - to look for ways to bridge the gap. The fact that they're polar opposites isn't surprising in my view," Putin said. "I'd rather not go into details, because I believe it's neither appropriate nor helpful to get ahead of the negotiations themselves."

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