Russian and US presidents, Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama are likely to have  opportunities for direct contacts by the end of this year, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated, RIA Novosti reported.

He mentioned that the Russian and U.S. presidents are in contact.

Ryabkov said that recently they had several telephone conversations, meetings were held last year, and would be opportunities for such contacts this year, too.

According to him, the issue of direct contacts between the two presidents was not included in the agenda of US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Moscow.