FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Exxon Mobil Chief Executive Rex Tillerson during a ceremony awarding heads and employees of major energy companies in St. Petersburg, Russia June 21, 2013. Sputnik/Michael Klimentyev/Kremlin/via REUTERS/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed preparations for Syria talks in Astana with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev by phone on Thursday, the Kremlin said in a statement.