It will take years to restore relations between the European Union and Russia, Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told journalists after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"It is important to maintain dialogue, make efforts to prevent the situation from deteriorating and do everything for the relations [between EU and Russia] to improve," Kurz said. "We need to ease tensions. It is a long and complicated process. It is clear that it will take years," the Austrian chancellor added. He noted that heads of governments of some countries do not maintain any contacts with Moscow, and that "the loss of trust is severe."

Kurz called for doing everything possible to create a positive dynamic for developments in Syria and in eastern Ukraine. He described as "very positive" Putin's words about the importance of striving toward withdrawal of all foreign forces from Syria.

"I hope it will not stay just an idea, but will insted become a reality," he noted.