FINANCIAL TIMES: …The Elysée Palace described the 15-minute meeting between Mr Putin and Mr Poroshenko, prepared with both sides over several days, as “fragile progress” in the bid to end bitter fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists.
It said the two men, accompanied by President François Hollande, Angela Merkel, German chancellor, and officials from each side, had shaken hands and conversed “completely normally” about a possible official recognition by Moscow of Mr Poroshenko’s election and a ceasefire…
The White House played down the talks between Mr Obama and Mr Putin, who spoke for 10-15 minutes. “It was an informal conversation – not a formal bilateral meeting,” it said… (more)
