When Poroshenko met Putin: the diplomacy behind D-Day

Prince Charles has already compared the actions of Vladimir Putin in Ukraine to those of Hitler in world war two, sparking a diplomatic row.

But now, in the shadow of Europe’s last great war, have two leaders taken steps to try and prevent this new conflict from turning into another?

As they met in France at a commemoration ceremony for the D-Day landings 70 years on, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian president-elect Petro Poroshenko jointly called for an end to the bloodshed still taking place in Ukraine.

In a brief conversation, both Putin and Poroshenko called for a speedy end to the bloodshed. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov

“In a brief conversation, both Putin and Poroshenko called for a speedy end to the bloodshed in south eastern Ukraine, as well as to fighting on both sides – by the Ukrainian armed forces as well as by supporters of the federalisation of Ukraine,” RIA Novosti news agency cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

It is the first time the pair have met since Moscow annexed Crimea earlier this year, and comes as the fighting continues in the east of Ukraine around Donetsk and Slaviansk. Clashes between Ukraine’s military and pro-Russian protesters – which Russia denies having any official links to despite western accusations to the contrary – have in fact intensified since the election of pro-western businessman Petro Poroshenko.

The pair spoke for around 10-15 minutes, seemingly chaperoned, at least for some of it, by Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel. US President Barack Obama also held brief talks with Mr Putin at the D-Day event.

French President Francois Hollande‘s office said Putin and Poroshenko shook hands and agreed that detailed talks on a ceasefire between Kiev government forces and pro-Russian separatists would begin within a few days.

Mr Poroshenko was photographed looking unsmiling and earnest as he stood with Mr Putin and Mrs Merkel.

“It was a normal, serious exchange between two leaders,” an official in Mr Hollande’s office said.