MOSCOW

The chiefs of Russian and US intelligence agencies have agreed to maintain regular contact to help reduce tensions between Moscow and Washington during a phone call on Tuesday, according to an official statement on Wednesday.

Director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergey Naryshkin and CIA Director John Ratcliffe also discussed cooperation in areas of mutual interest and crisis management, the SVR press service said in a statement. 

"Both sides agreed to maintain regular communication between the SVR and the CIA leadership to promote international stability and security, as well as to ease tensions in Moscow-Washington relations," the statement said.

The call between the two intelligence chiefs followed earlier Russia-US contacts at various levels held this month.