The two presidents discussed current matters concerning bilateral relations, including political contacts at various levels. The situation with trade and economic cooperation and prospects for its development were the subject of particular attention.
At Mr Niinistö’s request, Mr Putin gave his assessment of the main results of the Normandy format meeting in Paris on October 2 and stressed that further steps toward settling the domestic crisis in Ukraine depend largely on Kiev’s readiness to implement all provisions of the Minsk Agreements signed in February.
In an exchange of views on the situation in Syria, the two presidents expressed support for consolidating the efforts of all concerned countries to provide collective resistance to the terrorist threat coming from Islamic State and other terrorist groups. Mr Putin briefed Mr Niinistö in detail on the Russian military operations currently underway against terrorist groups on Syrian territory.