Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that there were preconditions for budgetary pressure on Russia due to increased defense spending that is fueling inflation, and the country was ready to reduce military spending in the long term, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Putin also noted that Russia was ready for a new round of peace talks with Ukraine, possibly in the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul, although the time and place have not yet been agreed.
The Russian head of state said there were major differences between the two countries regarding the proposals made during previous talks, but expressed hope that continuing the dialogue would help reduce these differences.
Putin told reporters in the Belarusian capital Minsk, that negotiators from both sides are in constant contact. Russia is ready to return the bodies of another 3,000 Ukrainian servicemen, he said.