Russia's Putin plans meeting with Merkel on sidelines of G20 summit - Interfax

Russia's President Vladimir Putin holds a shovel as he takes part in a tree planting during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Beijing, November 11, 2014. REUTERS/Alexei Druzhinin/RIA Novosti/Kremlin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to hold a meeting with Germany's Angela Merkel on the sidelines of a G20 summit starting in Australia on Saturday, Interfax reported on Friday, citing Putin's spokesman. Tensions are likely to be felt between Western leaders and Putin at the summit, following fresh accusations from Kiev that Russia has sent troops into eastern Ukraine. Russia denies the accusations. (Reporting by Alexander Winning, Editing by Thomas Grove)