MOSCOW
In a surprise visit to Moscow, French President Francois Hollande met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday.
President Putin met with his French counterpart at the Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, as Hollande was returning from a visit to Kazakhstan.
Francois Hollande is the first Western leader to meet with Vladimir Putin in Russia since the annexation of Crimea in March and the ensuing crisis in eastern Ukraine.
The visit comes two days after Putin said Russia would not bow to Western pressure, defending the annexation of the Crimean peninsula region.
"Crimea is to Russia what Jerusalem is to Muslims and Jews," said Putin during a speech before parliament on Thursday.
As the Ukrainian crisis continues, France has refused to deliver a pair of Mistral helicopter carrier warships.
Reporters asked the Russian president about the delivery of the vessels, which France built for Russia.
Putin replied they had not spoken of the subject. But, he added that Russia would expect compensation should the ships not be delivered.
After the meeting Putin summed up the meeting to the press, saying they had spoken of the Ukrainian crisis, the situation in Syria, Iran’s nuclear program and bilateral relations as well.
The two noted the importance of a permanent cease-fire in eastern Ukraine and Putin said he hoped that such a decision would be made in the near future.
On Thursday, the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists agreed on a cease-fire that is to last until next Tuesday.
The previous cease-fire between Kiev and pro-Russian separatists was signed on Sept. 5 in Minsk, but it was violated numerous times.
www.aa.com.tr/en
