Putin hopes for deal to resolve Ukraine crisis Friday

MOSCOW, Sept 3 (agencies): President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow and Kiev held positions on resolving the crisis in Ukraine that were "very close", and that he hoped a final deal could be struck during talks scheduled for Friday.
"I believe that a final agreement between the authorities of Kiev and southeast Ukraine can be reached and cemented during a meeting of the Contact Group on September 5," Putin was quoted as saying by RIA-Novosti news agency on Wednesday.
Meanwhile:  Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed a peace settlement in eastern Ukraine with President Petro Poroshenko and found that they "largely share views" on ways out of the crisis, Putin's spokesman was quoted as saying on Wednesday.
 Putin and Poroshenko met last week for talks which mainly highlighted the vastly conflicting views of the two leaders.
 Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of sending its troops and weapons to support pro-Russian insurgents who have been fighting government troops in eastern Ukraine since mid-April. Moscow has vehemently denied this charge.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies on Wednesday that Putin and Poroshenko in a recent conversation - Peskov didn't give a date - found that they "largely share views" on what could be done to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine's east.
 Over the weekend, the European Union leaders agreed to prepare a new round of sanctions that could be enacted in a week, after NATO accused Russia of sending tanks and troops into southeastern Ukraine. A NATO summit in Wales on Thursday is also expected to approve measures designed to counter Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine.