Russia's President Vladimir Putin is set to hold talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko at a summit in Milan. The pair are also scheduled to meet key EU leaders, reports GHN based on DW.
Russia's leader Vladimir Putin is to hold talks with Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in the northern Italian city of Milan.
The two are then scheduled to hold broader discussions with EU leaders. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will host Friday's meeting, which will also be attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and British Prime Minister David Cameron, as well as EU chiefs.
European leaders held a first round of talks on Thursday and appeared to point the finger at Moscow for the constant violation of a ceasefire agreement struck in Minsk last month.
"It is obviously above all Russia's task to make clear that the Minsk plan is adhered to," Merkel told reporters. "Unfortunately, there are still a lot of shortcomings but it will be important to look for a dialogue here."
Merkel met with both Putin and Poroshenko on Thursday evening ahead of the final day of the ASEM summit.
"The meeting went very well and we have seen a great demonstration of support for Ukraine," Poroshenko said afterwards.
The West imposed sanctions on Russia for its annexation of Crimea earlier this year, and also for its alleged support of pro-Russian separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Russia denied the charges, but said it had a right to defend the interests of the region's Russian-speaking majority.
