David Cameron has clashed with Russian President Vladimir Putin in diplomatic talks in Milan today over the continuing crisis in Ukraine. The Prime Minister said Russia must denounce unofficial elections in rebel-held areas of Ukraine, which are propped up by the Kremlin, if it is to stand any chance of seeing EU sanctions eased. But Mr Putin failed to offer any assurance on the issue during talks with European leaders and Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko in a fresh push to end the conflict. David Cameron (left), French President Francois Hollande (centre) and Russian leader Vladimir Putin (right) held talks in Milan today . Downing Street sources described the exchanges with EU leaders and Mr Poroshenko - in the margins of today's summit in Milan - as 'frank'. Mr Putin declared his intent to avoid a 'frozen conflict' in the region, they said, but had been pressed repeatedly to offer concrete examples of what the Kremlin was prepared to do. The Kremlin said the talks had been 'difficult and full of misunderstanding and disagreements'. A ceasefire deal was signed in Minsk in September but more than 300 people have since been killed in continued clashes with pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country. Moscow denies arming the rebel forces but the EU and US have imposed economic sanctions in response to the annexation of Crimea and what they see as continued support for separatists. 'Vladimir Putin said very clearly that he doesn't want a frozen conflict, he doesn't want a divided Ukraine,' Mr Cameron said after the talks ahead of the Asia Europe Meeting. The Prime Minister held 'frank' talks with his Russian counterpart in talks over the crisis in Ukraine . David Cameron arrived at the Asia-Europe summit in Milan, northern Italy, today amid continuing bloody skirmishes in Eastern Ukraine . Vladimir Putin gets into a car as he leaves the Asia-Europe Meeting, brings together 53 countries - representing more than half the world's gross domestic product and over 60 per cent of the global population . 'But if that is the case then Russia needs to take the action to put in place all that has been agreed - getting Russian troops out of Ukraine, getting heavy weapons out of Ukraine, respecting all the agreements and only recognising one legitimate set of Ukrainian elections,' he told reporters. 'If those things don't happen then the European Union, Britain included, must keep in place the sanctions and the pressure so that we don't have this kind of conflict in our continent.' French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council president Herman van Rompuy were part of the latest peace push - which also focused on a gas dispute which has raised fears of energy supplies to Europe being affected. Further talks between officials will take place later today in a bid to thrash out formal agreements. Official parliamentary elections have been called for October 26, with local polls - including in disputed areas - for December 7, but rebels have declared their own vote on November 2. A Downing Street source said: 'It was a pretty frank meeting. On the one hand there are signs that Putin doesn't want a frozen conflict, but I think we remain cautious that we see that progress on the ground.' Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron held talks on the sidelines of the summit in Milan . Mr Putin 'wouldn't commit' to denouncing the rival polls. 'Clearly those are not the ones agreed by the Ukrainian government; they are therefore not in line with Ukrainian law and we all need to be clear that we'll denounce them and won't recognise them.' Before leaving Italy, Mr Cameron had face-to-face talks with President Nursultan Nazarbayev, of Kazakhstan, about the latest situation. He also met his newly-elected Polish and Swedish counterparts, Ewa Kopacz and Stephan Lofven.More than 3,600 people have died in eastern Ukraine since fighting broke out in mid-April when armed separatists declared they were setting up their own state. Although Putin announced this week that Russian troops near the border with Ukraine would be pulled back, Western officials want to see clear evidence that Moscow is acting on this. 'Vladimir Putin said very clearly he doesn't want a frozen conflict and doesn't want a divided Ukraine. But if that's the case, then Russia now needs to take the actions to put in place all that has been agreed,' said British Prime Minister David Cameron. 'If those things don't happen, then clearly the European Union, Britain included, must keep in place the sanctions and the pressure so we don't have this sort of conflict in our continent.'
PM said Russia must denounce unofficial elections in rebel-held areas .
But Mr Putin failed to offer any assurance on the issue during talks in Milan .
Downing Street said exchanges between Putin and EU leaders were 'frank'
Kremlin said talks 'difficult and full of misunderstanding and disagreements'
David Cameron has clashed with Russian President Vladimir Putin in diplomatic talks in Milan today over the continuing crisis in Ukraine. The Prime Minister said Russia must denounce unofficial elections in rebel-held areas of Ukraine, which are propped up by the Kremlin, if it is to stand any chance of seeing EU sanctions eased. But Mr Putin failed to offer any assurance on the issue during talks with European leaders and Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko in a fresh push to end the conflict. David Cameron (left), French President Francois Hollande (centre) and Russian leader Vladimir Putin (right) held talks in Milan today . Downing Street sources described the exchanges with EU leaders and Mr Poroshenko - in the margins of today's summit in Milan - as 'frank'. Mr Putin declared his intent to avoid a 'frozen conflict' in the region, they said, but had been pressed repeatedly to offer concrete examples of what the Kremlin was prepared to do. The Kremlin said the talks had been 'difficult and full of misunderstanding and disagreements'. A ceasefire deal was signed in Minsk in September but more than 300 people have since been killed in continued clashes with pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country. Moscow denies arming the rebel forces but the EU and US have imposed economic sanctions in response to the annexation of Crimea and what they see as continued support for separatists. 'Vladimir Putin said very clearly that he doesn't want a frozen conflict, he doesn't want a divided Ukraine,' Mr Cameron said after the talks ahead of the Asia Europe Meeting. The Prime Minister held 'frank' talks with his Russian counterpart in talks over the crisis in Ukraine . David Cameron arrived at the Asia-Europe summit in Milan, northern Italy, today amid continuing bloody skirmishes in Eastern Ukraine . Vladimir Putin gets into a car as he leaves the Asia-Europe Meeting, brings together 53 countries - representing more than half the world's gross domestic product and over 60 per cent of the global population . 'But if that is the case then Russia needs to take the action to put in place all that has been agreed - getting Russian troops out of Ukraine, getting heavy weapons out of Ukraine, respecting all the agreements and only recognising one legitimate set of Ukrainian elections,' he told reporters. 'If those things don't happen then the European Union, Britain included, must keep in place the sanctions and the pressure so that we don't have this kind of conflict in our continent.' French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council president Herman van Rompuy were part of the latest peace push - which also focused on a gas dispute which has raised fears of energy supplies to Europe being affected. Further talks between officials will take place later today in a bid to thrash out formal agreements. Official parliamentary elections have been called for October 26, with local polls - including in disputed areas - for December 7, but rebels have declared their own vote on November 2. A Downing Street source said: 'It was a pretty frank meeting. On the one hand there are signs that Putin doesn't want a frozen conflict, but I think we remain cautious that we see that progress on the ground.' Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron held talks on the sidelines of the summit in Milan . Mr Putin 'wouldn't commit' to denouncing the rival polls. 'Clearly those are not the ones agreed by the Ukrainian government; they are therefore not in line with Ukrainian law and we all need to be clear that we'll denounce them and won't recognise them.' Before leaving Italy, Mr Cameron had face-to-face talks with President Nursultan Nazarbayev, of Kazakhstan, about the latest situation. He also met his newly-elected Polish and Swedish counterparts, Ewa Kopacz and Stephan Lofven.More than 3,600 people have died in eastern Ukraine since fighting broke out in mid-April when armed separatists declared they were setting up their own state. Although Putin announced this week that Russian troops near the border with Ukraine would be pulled back, Western officials want to see clear evidence that Moscow is acting on this. 'Vladimir Putin said very clearly he doesn't want a frozen conflict and doesn't want a divided Ukraine. But if that's the case, then Russia now needs to take the actions to put in place all that has been agreed,' said British Prime Minister David Cameron. 'If those things don't happen, then clearly the European Union, Britain included, must keep in place the sanctions and the pressure so we don't have this sort of conflict in our continent.'
Minister said Russia must denounce unofficial elections in rebel-held areas of Ukraine, which Putin failed to offer any assurance on the issue during talks with European leaders and Ukraine's exchanges with EU leaders and Mr Poroshenko - in and full of misunderstanding and disagreements'. in Milan . Mr Putin 'wouldn't commit' to