G7 accuses, Putin denies

Although excluded from the G7 summit, President Vladimir Putin still knows how to make himself heard.

In an interview given to a French journalist in Sochi, the location where the G8 summit should have taken place were it not for the Ukrainian crisis, Putin discussed Syria, sanctions on Russia and relations with the EU.

However, the hot topic and the main focus of the interview was Ukraine and the current unstable position it is in.

Earlier on Wednesday, Putin was accused by G7 members that he was trying to destabilize Ukraine by aiding the separatists with weapons and extra combatants.

Now, Putin responded, denying any such allegations: 'If they have proof they have to show it. Everybody has seen the US Secretary of State showing at the UN Security Council the proof of Iraq having weapons of mass destruction. He showed then a tube with a substance that could well have been washing powder. To say something is one thing, to provide proof is another.'

The Russian President also mentioned meeting Ukraine's president-elect, Petro Poroshenko, who, he hopes, will put and end to the violence in his country: 'I think that Mr. Poroshenko has a unique opportunity. His hands are still clean, he can still stop this reprisal operation and start a direct dialogue with the citizens of the East of his own country.'

The two will meet during the D-Day landings commemorations in France.