Putin And Poroshenko Displayed Widly Opposing Views In Today's Meeting

Leaders: Vladimir Putin (left), Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko (centre) and Petro Poroshenko (right) pose for photographs ahead of their high-stakes talks in Minsk today

Putin And Poroshenko Come Face To Face For The First Time Since Fighting Broke Out In Ukraine… But A Fresh War Of Words Has Now Begun -- Daily Mail

* Presidents of Russia and Ukraine met for talks in Belarusian capital Minsk
* Men sat down for discussions on fighting that has engulfed east Ukraine
* Despite staging handshake for cameras pair displayed wildly opposing views
* Poroshenko said 'the fate of peace and the fate of Europe' was at stake
* But Putin focused on trade agreements and Ukraine's ties with the West
* Meeting came just hours after Kiev issued photographs of men it claims are Russian paratroopers it discovered operating inside Ukrainian territory

The presidents of Russia and Ukraine have taken part in discussions on the fighting that has engulfed Ukraine's pro-Moscow east - the first face-to-face meeting between the pair since June.

Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko were joined by the presidents of Belarus and Kazakhstan and three senior officials from the European Union in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.

Despite staging a handshake for the cameras, it seems highly unlikely the pair will find common ground after Poroshenko used his opening speech to declare the fate of Europe was at stake, while Putin focused on how Ukraine's ties with the West will negatively impact on Russia's economy.

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More News On Today's Meeting Between Vladimir Putin And Petro Poroshenko

Putin And Poroshenko Set Out Different Paths To Peace In Ukraine -- Reuters
Ukraine crisis: Putin, Poroshenko meet in Minsk amid border violence -- AP
Putin, Poroshenko shake hands as Minsk forum to discuss Ukrainian peace plan -- RT
Putin Warns on Ukraine Pursuing Closer Ties With West -- WSJ

My Comment: This meeting is turning into an embarrassment. There is zero common ground between the two men. I will be updating this story later tonight.