Russian President Vladimir Putin, offers money to Jordan’s King Abdullah II on the second day of talks

President Vladimir Putin and Jordanian King Abdullah II began a second day of talks Friday in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russian news agencies reported.

The two leaders were discussing bilateral relations and international issues, the Interfax, ITAR-Tass and RIA-Novosti news agencies reported.

After meeting with Abdullah on Thursday, Putin called for a timetable for pulling U.S. and other troops out of Iraq, and for broader involvement of the international community in efforts to stabilize the situation there.

He also said he had spoken to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on the situation in the Gaza Strip, and praised Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for showing "courage and consistency" in withdrawing Jewish settlers from the region.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov sent a special envoy to the Middle East on Friday to take part in a meeting Saturday of the so-called Quartet seeking peace between Israel and the Palestinians _ Russia, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, reports the AP.

According to Komersant, As to the Russian-Jordanian relations, Putin specified Russia may provide financial aid to Jordan so that they could gain momentum. “The case in hand is millions of dollars,” Putin added after certain hesitation.

Perhaps, in an attempt to make it clear – should Jordan be short of money for the next consignment of Russia’s planes and weapons, Russia would back it up.

The terms of such loans will be very attractive. So far, Russia has never provided the funds this way, Putin promised.