G8 leaders to discuss Nagorno Karabakh conflict

"I am certain that we will talk about the entire post-Soviet space, particularly those problem areas that are not yet quiet," Putin told a briefing in the early hours of Saturday morning.

He told journalists that he and U.S. President George Bush had talked about conflicts in territories neighboring Russia earlier in the day, RIA Novosti reports.

"We mostly talked about Georgia," he said.

Talking about the breakaway region of South Ossetia in Georgia, which has been the source of tension between Moscow and Tbilisi this year, Putin said it was a concern.

"The situation is tense and is not being defused," he said.

He called on Georgia to find ways to cooperate with South Ossetia.

Putin also said the G8 leaders would touch upon the problem of Nagorno Karabakh, a territory disputed by Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The president said the U.S. and French leaders were particularly involved in the problem, but added Russia and its partners were ready to become guarantors of any agreements on the issue.

"We will not foist a decision on either the Azerbaijani nor Armenian side," he said.