Vladimir Putin

Pope Francis encouraged Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage in "sincere" international efforts aimed at bringing peace to Ukraine as the two men met privately at the Vatican on June 10.

The United States urged the Vatican on June 10 to criticise Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict more forcefully, hours before Pope Francis was due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

"It does seem that Russia is supporting the insurgents and does seem that there are Russian troops inside Ukraine," said Ken Hackett, the US ambassador to the Vatican. 

President Vladimir Putin will be on the lookout for signs of dissent over European Union sanctions on Russia when he visits Italy on June 10, but he is likely to be disappointed.

President Barack Obama is aiming to show unity with Western allies on global challenges during an overnight trip to Germany, especially Chancellor Angela Merkel amid enduring anti-Americanism in her country over US spying programs.

Greece has the sovereign right to decide which unions and zones it wishes to be a member of, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

In an interview published on Saturday, Putin highlighted the historically close ties and good partnership between his country and Greece.

Russia is not a threat to the West, President Vladimir Putin insisted in an interview published on June 6, saying he was still committed to a Ukraine peace deal after a fresh flare-up in the country's east.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras have discussed over the phone the planned construction of a pipeline that will carry Russian natural gas to Turkey and Greece.

President Vladimir Putin and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras discussed plans on Friday for a pipeline to carry Russian gas to Europe via Turkey and agreed to meet in Russia in two weeks, the Kremlin said.

It said the two leaders, who spoke by telephone, would meet at an annual business conference taking place in Russia's second city of St Petersburg on June 18-20.

Russia's recent behaviour is more aggressive but does not pose an immediate threat to NATO, the alliance's chief Jens Stoltenberg said on June 4.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko warned June 4 of the "colossal threat" of a resumption of major clashes in eastern Ukraine where at least 24 people have died in renewed fighting between government forces and pro-Russian rebels.