BRUSSELS (AP) — The diplomatic efforts to resolve the standoff between Ukraine and Russia might lead to a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s president-elect. That possibility is being put forward by French President Francois Hollande (frahn-SWAH’ oh-LAWND’), who will be hosting D-Day commemorations tomorrow in Normandy.
Hollande says Putin and Ukrainian president-elect Petro Poroshenko will be in close proximity to one another. He says Putin has been told that he’ll be near the incoming Ukrainian leader, and that Putin has decided to move forward with the visit.
He spoke at the end of a Brussels summit of the Group of Seven major economies.
Hollande is having dinner tonight with President Barack Obama — followed by another dinner with Putin.
Despite differences over Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and the unrest since then in eastern Ukraine, Russia has indicated it’s ready for a direct dialogue with Poroshenko. He was elected last month and will be sworn-in this weekend.
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APPHOTO XEL104: Ukrainian soldiers move to position during a battle with pro-Russian separatist fighters outside Slovyansk, Ukraine, Thursday, June 5, 2014. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have destroyed an ammunition depot belonging to militiamen in Slovyansk, Donetsk region, spokesman for the military operation in eastern Ukraine, Vladislav Seleznyov, told on Wednesday evening. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (5 Jun 2014)
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