Russian president Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian president-elect Petro Poroshenko held their first face-to-face talks today on the sidelines of a D-Day anniversary event in France.
A possible ceasefire agreement in Ukraine was discussed as well as the economic consequences of the stand-off, a French official said.
"The conversation took place on possible measures to de-escalate (the crisis) including how Moscow could recognise the election of Poroshenko," the official who works in the office of French president Francois Hollande said.
“The details of a ceasefire will also be discussed in coming days.”
The anniversary saw world leaders sounding each other out in private on the Ukraine crisis, the most serious security crisis in Europe for more than two decades.
Russia's annexation of Crimea in March and the current standoff in eastern Ukraine between government forces and pro-Russian separatists have plunged Moscow's relations with the United States and European Union to a post-Cold War low.
French diplomats said Mr Hollande had hoped to get Mr Putin to at least shake the hand of Mr Poroshenko on the sidelines of the ceremonies, in what was hoped could represent a first step in defusing tensions.
Mr Hollande discussed Ukraine at separate dinners last night with both Mr Obama and Mr Putin in Paris, but officials reported no breakthrough.
French foreign minister Laurent Fabius, who attended the talks, told RTL radio there was no question for now of a new round of sanctions against Russian interests.
German chancellor Angela Merkel and Mr Putin had an hour-long meeting in Normandy today which a Putin spokesman said "completely focused" on Ukraine. He gave no other details.
In Berlin, a government spokesman said Dr Merkel had told Mr Putin that Russia had "great responsibility" to help bring peace to Ukraine.
In an article for the newspaper Ouest France published this morning, thechancellor wrote: "Recent weeks have shown us that dangerous old ways of thinking are by no means banished from the history books.
“Peace and freedom can be put in doubt as the Ukraine conflict painfully shows us. It is a great worry to see new rifts and dividing lines forming,” Merkel wrote.
Mr Putin had not recognised the legitimacy of the Ukrainian president-elect before today, although Russia is sending its ambassador to his inauguration tomorrow.
Reuters