Obama urges Putin to end Ukraine crisis in talks with European leaders

U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to use his upcoming summit with leaders of France, Germany and Ukraine to seek an end to the crisis in eastern Ukraine.

In their talks over the phone, Obama discussed with Putin the escalating violence in Ukraine's east and what he called Russia's "ongoing support" for the separatists there, the White House said in a statement.

It said Obama "reiterated America's support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine" and "underscored the importance of President Putin seizing the opportunity presented by the ongoing discussions between Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine to reach a peaceful resolution."

Following a White House meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday, Obama voiced support for the diplomatic efforts being pursued by Germany and France, declaring he would put off any decision on whether to arm the Ukrainian government troops until the summit talks are held in the Belarussian capital of Minsk on Wednesday.

Obama warned Putin in their phone talks of "rising costs" over what he called Russia's continuing "aggressive actions" in eastern Ukraine, "including by sending troops, weapons and financing to support the separatists," allegations that have been rejected by Moscow.

Fighting started in April last year between the government forces and independence-seeking rebels in eastern Ukraine and has intensified since mid-January with a "rising human toll," as Obama put it.

Washington and its European allies have slapped rounds of sanctions on Moscow over its annexation of Crimea and its alleged support for the insurgents in eastern Ukraine. Endite