"The context is evolving, obviously, but the content of our relations is changing for the better," Putin told the former secretary of state Henry Kissinger, who visited him at his home here, around 10 kilometres (six miles) out of Moscow.

"We are boosting our cooperation on the international scene. Our points of view are far from always coinciding, but the most important thing is that we understand one another and we find compromises. Our most recent moves over Iran have shown that," Putin told reporters.

"Our relations in the fight against terrorism remain very imporant," he added.