Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday his country and the United States understand each other and can find compromises and the latest agreement on Iran's nuclear issue is an example of both sides' ability to compromise.

"Our views are far from being invariably identical, but in general we understand each other, and what is more important, we find compromises," Putin told former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger at his home outside Moscow, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

"The latest steps taken regarding Iran demonstrate precisely that," Putin said.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China -- and Germany reached consensus Thursday on a new European package of incentives to get Iran to halt nuclear enrichment, including an offer to suspend sanctions in the Security Council.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana flew into Tehran Monday night and presented the new six-nation proposal to Iran during a meeting Tuesday with Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, who said the new proposal contains "positive steps" and "ambiguities."

Kissinger said he was perfectly aware of the great importance the two countries' leaders attached to bilateral cooperation, and that was most well seen in the six-nation accord on Iran and the role Russia played in making those agreements a reality.

Putin said Moscow and Washington were building up cooperation on the international stage and "maintain systematic contact at all levels, and between all departments and agencies."

The Russian president had a telephone conversation on Monday with his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush to discuss the upcoming summit of the Group of Eight (G8) leading industrialized nations, the Iranian nuclear standoff and the Middle East peace process, the Kremlin press service said.

Source: Xinhua