Putin and Obama "meet briefly, informally"

Putin and Obama "meet briefly, informally"

NORMANDY -- U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday met briefly on the sidelines of D-Day anniversary celebrations in France.

This was announced by the office of French President Francois Hollande.

Reuters reported that a White House official confirmed that an "informal" meeting had taken place, and that it had lasted "10-15 minutes."

It was the first face-to-face meeting between Obama and Putin since the beginning of the crisis in Ukraine, and took place during a lunch organized by Hollande.

Also in Normandy on Friday, Putin had another informal meeting - with the newly elected Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

They reportedly discussed "a cease-fire and other possible measures to deescalate the crisis, and the possibility that Moscow might recognize Poroshenko's election as president."

This account of the conversation was given by an unnamed French official, who also said that talks on the subject of a ceasfire would "continue in the coming days."

AFP said that this "unplanned encounter" also lasted "some 15 minutes," and was initiated by Hollande.