Putin says Russia 'to continue efforts' to settle trade ties with Ukraine, EU

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual end-of-year news conference in Moscow, Russia, December 17, 2015. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will continue making efforts to iron out existing disputes in its trade relations with the European Union and Ukraine, Russian news agencies quoted President Vladimir Putin as saying on Tuesday.

"I think we will return to these issues more than once. We want to normalise relations (in trade) with our partners - with Ukraine and with the European Union," Interfax news agency quoted Putin as saying.