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Reports: French President Hollande meets with Vladimir Putin in impromptu visit

Associated Press
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Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and French President Francois Hollande speak during their meeting at Moscow's Vnukovo airport, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. French President Francois Hollande met with Russia's Vladimir Putin during an impromptu visit to Moscow on Saturday, as tensions remain high over the ongoing conflict in east Ukraine and France's decision to suspend the delivery of two warships to Moscow. (AP Photo/Maxim Zmeyev, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and his French counterpart Francois Hollande shake hands during their meeting at Moscow's Vnukovo airport, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. The French leader met with Vladimir Putin at a Moscow airport on Saturday in an unexpected stopover visit, as he traveled from neighboring Kazakhstan back to Paris. (AP Photo/Maxim Zmeyev, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and French President Francois Hollande speak during their meeting at Moscow's Vnukovo airport, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. French President Francois Hollande met with Russia's Vladimir Putin during an impromptu visit to Moscow on Saturday, as tensions remain high over the ongoing conflict in east Ukraine and France's decision to suspend the delivery of two warships to Moscow. (AP Photo/Maxim Zmeyev, Pool) (The Associated Press)

French President Francois Hollande is meeting with his Russian counterpart in an impromptu visit to Moscow, Russian news agencies report.

The French leader met with Vladimir Putin at a Moscow airport on Saturday in an unexpected stopover visit, as he traveled from neighboring Kazakhstan back to Paris.

Last month, France suspended the planned delivery of a warship to Russia after coming under intense pressure from its allies to suspend the sale because of tensions between Russia and Ukraine. On Friday, France's defense minister said in a TV interview that the delivery may be cancelled altogether if the political situation doesn't change.

Western nations have accused Russia of fueling a pro-Russian insurgency in east Ukraine with arms and personnel, in a conflict that has claimed at least 4,300 lives since April.