OREANDA-NEWS.  Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh.

Vladimir Putin told Manmohan Singh about the development of the crisis in Ukraine and the implementation of an informed choice by the multiethnic population of Crimea, which was made during the March 16 referendum.

A significant part of the discussion addressed issues of trade and economic cooperation and ties in other areas. Mr Singh expressed interest in promoting multidimensional cooperation, not just on a bilateral basis, but in multilateral formats as well, including through the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space.

The leaders of Russia and India expressed a firm determination to strengthen relations as a strategic, privileged partnership.