BRUSSELS: EU chief Charles Michel told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday that ties with Moscow had reached a "low point" and insisted it was up to the Kremlin to fix them, Brussels said.

"President Michel expressed the view that EU-Russia ties are at a low point," an EU statement said after a call between the leaders.

"The relationship with Russia can only take a different direction if there is sustained progress on issues like the implementation of the Minsk agreements (on Ukraine), stopping hybrid and cyber-attacks on Member States and respect for human rights."