DHAKA: Russian president Vladimir Putin wants to carry on the frequent ‘tough but constructive’ contacts he has had with chancellor Angela Merkel on the Ukraine crisis.

Putin’s spokesman has told German TV, reports The Straits Times.

Dmitry Peskov told ZDF television that the telephone talks between Putin and Merkel were worth their ‘weight in gold’, according to excerpts released ahead of broadcast on ‘Berlin Direkt’ later Sunday.

The two leaders have spoken by phone at least seven times since the start of the year.

‘That is worth its weight in gold in these heightened situations,’ the Kremlin spokesman said, even if it is ‘no secret’ that their positions on the Ukraine crisis differ on many points.

BDST: 1923 HRS, MAR 30, 2014