The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, will discuss the crisis in Ukraine at talks with his French counterpart, François Hollande, in Paris on 5 June, the Kremlin has said. The talks will be held at the Elysée Palace in Paris on the eve of a second world war anniversary, and will be Putin's first meeting with the head of a government or state of a major western power since Russia's annexation of Crimea in March.

THE GUARDIAN