Ukraine crisis: Russia must engage with Kiev, says G7

Leaders of the G7 industrial nations have urged Russia to begin talks with the new leadership in Kiev to end the crisis in eastern Ukraine, bbc.com reports.

US President Barack Obama and UK PM David Cameron said Moscow must recognise Petro Poroshenko, who takes office as president on Saturday.

The G7 leaders meeting in Brussels said they were fully behind Mr Poroshenko.

Later in Paris Mr Cameron met Russian President Vladimir Putin, giving him a "very clear and firm set of messages".

The two leaders met in a customs area of the French capital's Charles de Gaulle airport.

This was Mr Putin's first face-to-face meeting with a Western leader since the Ukraine crisis began.

"The status quo, the situation today, is not acceptable and it needs to change," Mr Cameron said.

"We need the Russians to properly recognise and work with this new president. We need de-escalation, we need to stop arms and people crossing the border. We need action on these fronts."

Mr Putin later met French President Francois Hollande for dinner, but according to Russian media no announcements were made after the meeting. Mr Hollande was to see Mr Obama for a separate meal.