(VOVworld) - French President Francois Hollande met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday in an unscheduled visit to Moscow. Hollande was travelling from Kazakhstan to France on Saturday when he decided to make the brief stopover to Russia to talk about Ukraine.

French President Francois Hollande and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: AP Photo/Maxim Zmeyey

The two leaders met at Vnukovo airport near Moscow. Before a closed door meeting, President Hollande told his Russian counterpart that it’s time for both sides to grasp opportunities to settle differences. In response, Putin expressed his belief that Hollande’s short visit will help find solutions to many problems. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed tensions emerged after France refused to deliver Mistral warship to Russia because Russia did not satisfy requirements to ease tensions in Ukraine. Russia had warned to sue France for breaking an agreement on the delivery of the warship signed in 2011.