German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Ukrainian president-elect Petro Poroshenko, center, talk after a group photo before a luncheon as they take part in the 70th anniversary of D-Day in Benouville in Normandy, France, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
June 06, 2014 - 5:00 AM
BENOUVILLE, France - Russian President Vladimir Putin has met informally with Ukraine's President-elect Petro Poroshenko on the sidelines of D-Day commemorations in France.
It's the first meeting between the two leaders since Poroshenko was elected to head Ukraine. It comes during a week of intense diplomacy aimed at resolving the crisis in Ukraine.
The brief interaction took place after world leaders gathered for the commemoration posed for a group photo. After the photo, most of the leaders walked into a nearby building for a lunch. But Putin, Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel stayed outside the door and chatted in a threesome.
Reporters observing the encounter couldn't hear the conversation. The animated conversation lasted about a minute.
No plans have been announced for a longer, formal meeting between Putin and Poroshenko.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014