During the conversations, Mr Putin stressed the need for the Palestinians and Israelis to exercise restraint and start implementing the “road map” for peace agreed upon by the four international mediators as soon as possible.
Mr Putin noted that Russia as a co-sponsor of the Middle East peace process would spare no efforts in bringing lasting peace to the region.
These conversations followed a June 9, 2003 conversation between President Putin and US President George W. Bush. That conversation focused on the Middle East peace process following the American-Arab-Israeli summit in Aqaba, Jordan.