BRISBANE, November 15. /TASS/. Ukrainian problems were dominating meetings between Russian President Vladimir Putin and British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday.  

“Putin and Cameron noted that they are interested in restoration of ties [between Russia and the West] and in taking effective measures to settle the Ukrainian crisis that will promote abandonment of confrontational intentions,” Peskov said.

“Despite the lack of time Putin and Cameron talked Syrian problem and the Islamic State,” the presidential spokesman said, but, in his words, the two leaders focused on Ukrainian crisis.

“Cameron laid down his position on current situation in southeast Ukraine, Putin also gave quote extensive explanations,” Peskov said.

The two leaders “also raised fundamental reasons for current rift in relations between Russia, the United States and several European countries,” he added. 

Putin and the French president also focused on Ukrainian problems, “noting that all sides are actually suffering from the situation in southeast Ukraine and continued anti-Russian sanctions,” the Russian presidential spokesman said.

The two presidents “noted importance and historically multifaceted Russian-French relations and emphasised that they plan to take all effort for critical situation in southeast Ukraine not to overshadow these ties,” Peskov said.

Putin “offered deepest condolences once again over the tragic death of France energy giant Total CEO Christophe de Margerie in the air crash.