Putin urges Aliyev, Sargsyan to ensure full ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held telephone negotiations with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to discuss the escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"The latest developments in the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict area were discussed in detail. Having expressed his serious concern about the large-scale armed clashes, which caused numerous fatalities, Vladimir Putin called on both parties to urgently ensure the full cessation of hostilities and the observance of the ceasefire," the Kremlin press service reported.

"It was pointed out that Russia had been taking and would continue to take the necessary mediating steps aimed at normalizing the situation," it said.

"It was also underscored that it was important to resume the negotiating process between Yerevan and Baku facilitated by the OSCE Minsk Group with the purpose of further exploring ways to peacefully settle the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh. It was agreed to continue contacts in various formats," it said.

The telephone talks were initiated by Russia.

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