Putin, Poroshenko shake hands in Minsk (photo)

The summit, taking place at the Independece Palace, is reportedly to focus on the situation in Ukraine. Prior to the meeting, the leaders of participating countries and EU high-ranking officials came up to the press in order to make a joint statement. That's when Russia's president Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's president Petro Poroshenko shaked hands.

Apart of the presidents of Ukraine and Russia, those attending the Minsk summit are EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, EU trade commissioner Karel de Gucht, EU energy commissioner Guenther Oettinger and Kazakhstan's president Nursultan Nazarbayev. The summit is hosted by Belarus president Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

It is not clear if Putin and Poroshenko will hold a bilateral meeting.

Photo: AFP, Facebook