Putin, Hollande attempt to defuse Ukraine tensions (AFP, 6 Dec.) French President Francois Hollande on 6 December became the first European leader to fly to Russia in an attempt to defuse the standoff with Vladimir Putin over Ukraine, where the latest round of peace talks will take place next week. Meeting with Putin in the diplomatic terminal of an airport outside the capital, Hollande said he hoped to stop a new Berlin wall from appearing in Europe, as the conflict in eastern Ukraine plunged its relations with Moscow to a post-Cold War low. As the two sat across from one another, Putin said there are difficult problems at hand but that he was sure the visit would without a doubt contribute to the resolution of many problems, one of which was bound to be Hollandes decision to delay delivery of a Mistral-class helicopter carrier to the Russian navy.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 13:09:14 +0000