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Russia’s Putin meets embattled Ukrainian leader Yanukovych at Sochi Games

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Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych walks through the presidential lounge to take his seat at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/David Goldman, Pool)

SOCHI, Russia – Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met on the sidelines of the opening ceremony for the Sochi Olympic Games.

The Kremlin on Saturday confirmed that Yanukovych and Putin met late Friday evening but stopped short of giving the details. Ukraine has seen intense and often violent protests for more than two months since the government’s decision to reject closer ties with the European Union in favour of Russia. Russia has promised its western neighbour $15 billion in aid, but has disbursed only $3 billion while waiting to see whether Ukraine’s president stays in power.

Yanukovych’s visits came a day before the Russian financial minister announced that Russia would not lend more to Ukraine unless it pays its gas bill, due in January.

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