I am ready to maintain contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin if it helps to end the war in Ukraine.

 Chancellor of Austria Karl Nehammer made this statement in an interview with the ORF2 TV channel.

 Nehammer recalled that after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he spoke with Putin twice.

 In April, he came to Moscow and became the first leader of an EU country to visit Russia since the beginning of the war. That was the first time the Russian dictator had a personal conversation with the Austrian chancellor - they had not met or spoken on the phone since he took office.

 The second time the chancellor and the ways spoke by phone at the end of May. They discussed the exchange of prisoners, exports through Ukrainian ports and the humanitarian situation.

 "Austria is a neutral country, has a special status in the EU, and it is for this reason that it is important for me to try to play a mediating role in the negotiations," said Nehammer.