PARIS
British Prime Minister David Cameron and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met in Paris ahead of celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the landing operation against Nazi Germany during the Second World War.
The two leaders discussed the Ukrainian crisis at the Charles De Gaulle Airport of the French capital on Thursday in Putin's first face-to-face encounter with a Western leader since the onset of the crisis.
In his remarks after the meeting which followed a Russia-less G7 summit, Cameron said he clearly stated to Putin that a diplomatic solution in Ukraine was possible if Russia helps.
He said described the situation in Ukraine as "unacceptable" and said Moscow needed to recognize Petro Poroshenko - the president-elect of Ukraine, and open dialogue with him.
He added the arms in Ukraine should be silenced and the tension eased.
Putin avoided making any remarks after the meeting.
The Russian leader then attended a banquet hosted by French President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace.
Relations between the West and Russia remain tense following the events in Ukraine.
Putin accuses the west of instigating the crisis in Ukraine by backing an "anti-constitutional armed coup" against former president Viktor Yanukovych.
The U.S. and EU states accuse Putin of annexing Ukraine’s Crimea region in defiance of international law, and of supporting violent separatists in eastern Ukraine.
aa.com.tr/en
