Cold talks between Putin and EU over Ukraine

PLEASE NOTE-EDIT CONTAINS NUDITY

Rivals face off at the European Union in Belgium.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with leaders there for talks amid growing tension.

At the heart of their recent rivalry: Ukraine.

The EU and Russia have traded accusations about meddling in Ukraine's affairs during recent unrest, a charge Putin denies.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"Russia will never interfere, but you can imagine how our European partners would react when there is a crisis in Greece or in Cyprus, and that our foreign minister would show up at an anti-Europe demonstration, we think this, in general, is not very nice, but if you take the special relations between Russia and Ukraine into account, then it is simply unacceptable."

Barricades have been burning for days in Ukraine, threatening the stability of the economy.

The unrest has led to violent protests and drawn attention from European Council Pre