Russian President Vladimir Putin held phone talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on Sunday and discussed the situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, according to the Kremlin.

"Vladimir Putin called on the parties to prevent further escalation and take steps to resolve the situation as soon as possible by exclusively peaceful, political and diplomatic means," the Kremlin said in a statement.