Putin says satisfied with Russia-U.S. cooperation

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday he was satisfied with the level of cooperation between Russia and the United States.

"It is good that our contacts with colleagues from the United States are maintained at all level regularly," Putin said during his meeting with visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Recalling two recent telephone talks with his U.S. counterpart, Putin expressed his hope that the contacts with President Barack Obama could be even closer.

"I hope to meet him personally in the near future," Putin said, adding he and Obama "have several possibilities for a meeting this year."

According to Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov, a meeting between Putin and Obama is planned during a Group of Eight (G8) summit in Northern Ireland scheduled this June.

Kerry confirmed that Obama is looking forward to meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the G8 summit over major international issues including the Syrian crisis, the Iranian nuclear program and the situation around the Korean Peninsula.

As for the reply of a message from Obama to Putin delivered by U.S. National Security Adviser Tom Donilon who visit Moscow last month, Peskov said the letter was still under preparation and would not be given to Kerry during his visit here.