(VOVworld) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel have jointly called for a diplomatic solution to current disagreements between the two countries and pledged that both will strive for cooperation. 

During their meeting in the Kremlin on Sunday, the two leaders also discussed problems in bilateral cooperation, Russia-EU relations, and the need to find a solution to the Ukraine political crisis.

Merkel said after the talk that there is still no real ceasefire in eastern Ukraine and expressed her deep concerns over the continuing violence there.

Putin reiterated his stance that Ukrainian crisis can only be resolved through political dialogue, adding that the parties involved need to fully abide by the Minsk agreement.