MOSCOW, February 13. /TASS/. Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the international committee of the Russian State Duma, has stated that he engaged in discussions with members of the US Congress, also noting that now is the time to consider restarting the relations between the two nations’ parliaments. "Right now, even though it is night in the US, I spoke to the congressmen. We never severed collaborative relations with representatives of both houses of the US Congress. We just never highlighted it to not jeopardize our partners," he told journalists. The senior MP emphasized that the time when relations between the two nuclear powers must be improved is approaching. "Now is the time to reassess the revival - in the future, not today - of, among other things, the Duma-Congress format," he added. The deputy also noted that communication between Russia and the US is now being strengthened, including via parliamentary diplomacy. "All that is related to Ukraine, the Middle East, the most critical issues of global affairs and the system of international relations will now be on the agenda of the two states on all levels, in every format. I cannot yet share any specifics, but we will not stay on the sidelines there. In the interest of peace on Earth, relations between two nuclear powers must not be at ground zero," the MP clarified. On February 12, Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a telephone conversation. They discussed the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, bilateral relations, and a range of other topics, also agreeing to maintain communication and arrange a face-to-face meeting.