MOSCOW, March 4 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the situation in Ukraine by telephone on Tuesday and their positions on the issue are “close”, the Kremlin said.

It said the presidents of the veto-wielding U.N. Security Council nation expressed hope that “the steps taken by the Russian leadership will allow for the reduction of ... tension and provide for the security of Russian-speaking citizens living in Crimea and the eastern regions of Ukraine.”