(SOTCHI) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Francois Fillon insisted Friday on direct ties between Moscow and Europe to guarantee stability in the region.

"The more Europe and Russia talk to each other, maintain a relationship of trust, have direct economic ties, the more stability and peace will be easy to construct," Fillon said as he arrived in the Russian city Sotchi to meet Putin.

Fillon travelled to meet Putin at his official residence in Sotchi. The visit had been planned for a long time, but had been suspended over the conflict between Georgia and Russia.

"We were committed to making sure this meeting would take place at the set date... because we attach a lot of importance to reinforcing the partnership between the European Union and Russia," he said later. France currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.

Putin, meanwhile, praised the "tenacity, diplomatic talent" and "patience" of French President Nicolas Sarkozy throughout the Georgia-Russia crisis.

"All the accords obtained thanks to the efforts of the French president will materialise," said the Russian prime minister.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday called on Europe to take a tougher stance against Russia, a power she said had become "aggressive."

The 27-nation EU is divided over how to respond to the conflict and refrained from imposing sanctions at an emergency summit this month.

Instead it decided to freeze negotiations on a new partnership with Russia.

With Sarkozy at the helm, the bloc negotiated the ceasefire that ended fighting between Georgian and Russian forces and has been pushing for a full withdrawal of Russian troops from the former Soviet republic.

Putin said strong ties with the EU would be an important contributing factor for continued negotiations in the crisis.

"We are counting on a rapprochement of the two parties, that of Russia and our European partners, aimed at implementing the accord," said Putin, as cited by Interfax news agency.

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