![With Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.](http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/big/vSWVpuvJhSAhs0Ls0kVMOJ0jo6kAQMj8.jpeg)
Mr Putin reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to the principle of respect for countries’ territorial integrity.
The two leaders agreed to instruct their foreign ministers to work together on stabilising bilateral relations.
Mr Putin informed Mr Saakashvili about the discussions on Kosovo that took place during the G8 summit in Heiligendamm and reaffirmed the position on this issue that Russia has already made clear in the past – a position that takes into account the existence of a similar situation in the post-Soviet area.
The two Presidents discussed the situation in South Ossetia and underscored Russia’s important role in efforts to settle the conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia.
President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili is in St Petersburg for the 11th Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum and the informal meeting between CIS heads of state.