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| Obama and Putin Meet Briefly at D-Day Event | |
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| BÉNOUVILLE, France — As President Obama wrapped up a four-day European trip on Friday, the violent conflict over Ukraine seemed to move toward a new phase of diplomacy, but it remained unclear whether the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, was genuinely willing or able to call off a pro-Russian uprising across his border. | BÉNOUVILLE, France — As President Obama wrapped up a four-day European trip on Friday, the violent conflict over Ukraine seemed to move toward a new phase of diplomacy, but it remained unclear whether the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, was genuinely willing or able to call off a pro-Russian uprising across his border. |
| Mr. Putin used a trip to France commemorating the 70th anniversary of D-Day to meet for the first time with his newly elected counterpart in Ukraine, Petro O. Poroshenko, and the two discussed the possibility of a cease-fire in the eastern part of the country. After a ceremonial luncheon in a chateau here, Mr. Putin also held an unscheduled conversation with Mr. Obama in addition to more formal meetings with the leaders of Britain, France and Germany. | Mr. Putin used a trip to France commemorating the 70th anniversary of D-Day to meet for the first time with his newly elected counterpart in Ukraine, Petro O. Poroshenko, and the two discussed the possibility of a cease-fire in the eastern part of the country. After a ceremonial luncheon in a chateau here, Mr. Putin also held an unscheduled conversation with Mr. Obama in addition to more formal meetings with the leaders of Britain, France and Germany. |
| The blitz of diplomacy may presage a new stage in the crisis, and Mr. Obama left France on Friday evening more optimistic than when he arrived. Mr. Obama used the trip to shore up solidarity with European allies, and American officials said they hoped that despite differences of approach, there was enough resolve to persuade Mr. Putin to change course. They said they wanted to give him a way out of the clash. | The blitz of diplomacy may presage a new stage in the crisis, and Mr. Obama left France on Friday evening more optimistic than when he arrived. Mr. Obama used the trip to shore up solidarity with European allies, and American officials said they hoped that despite differences of approach, there was enough resolve to persuade Mr. Putin to change course. They said they wanted to give him a way out of the clash. |
| “We have an opportunity to test whether” Russia is serious about de-escalating the crisis, said a senior administration official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the private discussions among the leaders. “The Russians will have to follow through here. In the past, sometimes their words have not led to actions.” | “We have an opportunity to test whether” Russia is serious about de-escalating the crisis, said a senior administration official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the private discussions among the leaders. “The Russians will have to follow through here. In the past, sometimes their words have not led to actions.” |
| The hope among American and European leaders is that the election of Mr. Poroshenko, who is to be inaugurated on Saturday, creates what the official called “a natural point” to seek a peaceful resolution. “There is a window open here,” the official said. | The hope among American and European leaders is that the election of Mr. Poroshenko, who is to be inaugurated on Saturday, creates what the official called “a natural point” to seek a peaceful resolution. “There is a window open here,” the official said. |
| Whether that proves overly optimistic was not clear. Even as Mr. Putin played the diplomat here, Russian officials continued to use language blaming the Ukrainian government for the crisis. Dmitry S. Peskov, Mr. Putin’s spokesman, confirmed that the Russian president had met with Mr. Poroshenko here for about 15 minutes and talked about stopping the use of violence and force on both sides. | Whether that proves overly optimistic was not clear. Even as Mr. Putin played the diplomat here, Russian officials continued to use language blaming the Ukrainian government for the crisis. Dmitry S. Peskov, Mr. Putin’s spokesman, confirmed that the Russian president had met with Mr. Poroshenko here for about 15 minutes and talked about stopping the use of violence and force on both sides. |
| “They agreed on the need to stop the violence,” Mr. Peskov said in a telephone interview from Moscow. “It was a very brief conversation.” | “They agreed on the need to stop the violence,” Mr. Peskov said in a telephone interview from Moscow. “It was a very brief conversation.” |
| No specific steps were agreed upon, and the two men did not go into details, Mr. Peskov said. It was not clear whether they had agreed to meet again, he said, adding that he could not go into any more detail at this time. “It is a positive step — a very humble one, but it is positive,” he said. | No specific steps were agreed upon, and the two men did not go into details, Mr. Peskov said. It was not clear whether they had agreed to meet again, he said, adding that he could not go into any more detail at this time. “It is a positive step — a very humble one, but it is positive,” he said. |
| Each side has said the other must take the first step. Moscow has repeatedly said Ukraine needs to halt military operations in the east, while the government in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, accuses the Kremlin of supporting the separatist movements there. | Each side has said the other must take the first step. Moscow has repeatedly said Ukraine needs to halt military operations in the east, while the government in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, accuses the Kremlin of supporting the separatist movements there. |
| Mr. Peskov said that instead of setting a monthlong deadline for Russia to stop the violence, as Mr. Obama did while in Europe, the United States should do something to influence Kiev to establish a cease-fire and stop violence “within days.” | Mr. Peskov said that instead of setting a monthlong deadline for Russia to stop the violence, as Mr. Obama did while in Europe, the United States should do something to influence Kiev to establish a cease-fire and stop violence “within days.” |
| “As soon as we stop the bloodshed, stop using force,” he said, citing the use of Ukrainian attack jets and helicopters against civilians, “it will be better for all of us.” He added, “Washington should use its influence to convince Kiev to stop it.” | “As soon as we stop the bloodshed, stop using force,” he said, citing the use of Ukrainian attack jets and helicopters against civilians, “it will be better for all of us.” He added, “Washington should use its influence to convince Kiev to stop it.” |
| The French president, François Hollande, first decided to try to bring Mr. Poroshenko and Mr. Putin together when he issued a last-minute invitation to the D-Day commemoration to the newly elected Ukrainian leader, a French official said. Mr. Hollande and other leaders of the Group of 7 industrial nations discussed it while meeting in Brussels, and the French president then raised it with Mr. Putin. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, a key player in Russian relations, joined the conversation with Mr. Poroshenko and Mr. Putin. | The French president, François Hollande, first decided to try to bring Mr. Poroshenko and Mr. Putin together when he issued a last-minute invitation to the D-Day commemoration to the newly elected Ukrainian leader, a French official said. Mr. Hollande and other leaders of the Group of 7 industrial nations discussed it while meeting in Brussels, and the French president then raised it with Mr. Putin. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, a key player in Russian relations, joined the conversation with Mr. Poroshenko and Mr. Putin. |
| Ms. Merkel met separately with Mr. Putin for about an hour in what Germans described as a “cool” atmosphere, apparently with a brief handshake. A government statement said Ms. Merkel used the meeting to emphasize the need to stabilize the situation in eastern Ukraine — and for Russia to take its share of the responsibility — now that the presidential election has taken place and produced a recognized result. | Ms. Merkel met separately with Mr. Putin for about an hour in what Germans described as a “cool” atmosphere, apparently with a brief handshake. A government statement said Ms. Merkel used the meeting to emphasize the need to stabilize the situation in eastern Ukraine — and for Russia to take its share of the responsibility — now that the presidential election has taken place and produced a recognized result. |
| As for Mr. Obama, he and Mr. Putin talked for about 15 minutes, aides said, and the American repeated his insistence that Russia curb the flow of arms and fighters into eastern Ukraine and formally recognize the government of Mr. Poroshenko. “It was an informal conversation, not a formal bilateral meeting,” said Benjamin J. Rhodes, Mr. Obama’s deputy national security adviser. | As for Mr. Obama, he and Mr. Putin talked for about 15 minutes, aides said, and the American repeated his insistence that Russia curb the flow of arms and fighters into eastern Ukraine and formally recognize the government of Mr. Poroshenko. “It was an informal conversation, not a formal bilateral meeting,” said Benjamin J. Rhodes, Mr. Obama’s deputy national security adviser. |
| The conversation came after an awkward pas de deux between Mr. Obama and Mr. Putin, who initially seemed to be going out of their way not to acknowledge each other’s presence amid the gathering of world leaders here. During the few minutes that they were in the presence of international journalists, Mr. Obama and Mr. Putin did not speak, did not shake hands and in fact seemed eager not to encounter each other, much like divorced parents both invited to a child’s graduation. | The conversation came after an awkward pas de deux between Mr. Obama and Mr. Putin, who initially seemed to be going out of their way not to acknowledge each other’s presence amid the gathering of world leaders here. During the few minutes that they were in the presence of international journalists, Mr. Obama and Mr. Putin did not speak, did not shake hands and in fact seemed eager not to encounter each other, much like divorced parents both invited to a child’s graduation. |
| Mr. Obama had refused to meet with Mr. Putin during his trip to Europe, even though his French, German and British counterparts all scheduled individual meetings with the Russian leader in France. Still, aides in advance did not rule out the possibility of an informal conversation, much like the one that evidently took place out of the public eye on the sidelines of the ceremonial luncheon. | Mr. Obama had refused to meet with Mr. Putin during his trip to Europe, even though his French, German and British counterparts all scheduled individual meetings with the Russian leader in France. Still, aides in advance did not rule out the possibility of an informal conversation, much like the one that evidently took place out of the public eye on the sidelines of the ceremonial luncheon. |
| The two were first seen together behind the chateau in Bénouville as leaders from around Europe and elsewhere gathered to take a group photograph. Mr. Hollande stood in the middle, with Queen Elizabeth II to his right and Mr. Obama to her right. To Mr. Hollande’s left was Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and to her left was Mr. Putin. | The two were first seen together behind the chateau in Bénouville as leaders from around Europe and elsewhere gathered to take a group photograph. Mr. Hollande stood in the middle, with Queen Elizabeth II to his right and Mr. Obama to her right. To Mr. Hollande’s left was Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and to her left was Mr. Putin. |
| Thus separated by three people, Mr. Obama and Mr. Putin busied themselves talking with others. Mr. Obama jovially greeted Ms. Merkel, kissing her on both cheeks. After the photograph was taken and the group began wandering into the chateau for lunch, Mr. Obama lingered behind, making sure that Queen Elizabeth, who was moving gingerly, got up the stairs and path all right. | Thus separated by three people, Mr. Obama and Mr. Putin busied themselves talking with others. Mr. Obama jovially greeted Ms. Merkel, kissing her on both cheeks. After the photograph was taken and the group began wandering into the chateau for lunch, Mr. Obama lingered behind, making sure that Queen Elizabeth, who was moving gingerly, got up the stairs and path all right. |
| At one point as the crowd moseyed slowly toward the building, Mr. Obama was right behind Mr. Putin, and could have tapped him on the shoulder if he wanted to, but instead focused his attention elsewhere as if not noticing who was there. Inside the chateau, the leaders had lunch around a horseshoe table, seated in the same order as in the photograph, with Mr. Obama and Mr. Putin separated by the same three people. | At one point as the crowd moseyed slowly toward the building, Mr. Obama was right behind Mr. Putin, and could have tapped him on the shoulder if he wanted to, but instead focused his attention elsewhere as if not noticing who was there. Inside the chateau, the leaders had lunch around a horseshoe table, seated in the same order as in the photograph, with Mr. Obama and Mr. Putin separated by the same three people. |
| The two ended up talking only after the lunch was over, an American official said. They began talking across the table as they stood and then remained talking for a while as other leaders filed out of the room. | The two ended up talking only after the lunch was over, an American official said. They began talking across the table as they stood and then remained talking for a while as other leaders filed out of the room. |