Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that on December 26, on the eve of the informal CIS summit, a three-way conversation was held with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

 "We started (the conversation) with you yesterday, and we were able to talk together," Putin said at the opening of the meeting with Nikol Pashinyan.

 The Russian President also noted that he will discuss the settlement of the situation in the South Caucasus and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations with the Prime Minister of Armenia.  "Of course, the main problem is the settlement of the situation in the South Caucasus as a whole, Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, everything related to Karabakh," Putin said.

 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in his turn, noted that the Lachin Corridor has not been under the control of the Russian peacekeeping troops for 20 days.

 "At the moment, the most important thing is the crisis of the Lachine Corridor.  You know that it has been blocked for almost 20 days," said the RA Prime Minister.

 Nikol Pashinyan reminded that the Lachin Corridor in Nagorno-Karabakh is under the control of Russian peacekeepers.

 "I want to remind you that according to the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020 (by the President of the Russian Federation, the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia), the Lachin Corridor should be under the control of Russian peacekeepers.  And the Republic of Azerbaijan has guaranteed the uninterrupted passage of passengers and cargo through the Lachin Corridor.  Now it turns out that the Lachin corridor is not under the control of Russian peacekeepers.  Of course, I would like to discuss this situation and what options are available (to resolve the created situation, - ed.)," said Nikol Pashinyan.