Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met with Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande for a second time today to discuss the violated ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, the four met with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and British Prime Minister David Cameron for talks that Mr Putin later described as "positive", however added that there was no sign of a decisive breakthrough.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who hosted the meeting, said afterwards that some progress had been made but that "a lot of differences" remained.
Talks between Mr Putin and Ms Merkel supposedly exposed major differences over the root of the continued conflict in the region, despite a ceasefire and peace accord agreed implemented on 5 September.
"There are still serious differences concerning the origin of Ukraine's internal conflict, as well as the root causes of what is currently happening," Russian news agencies quoted President Putin's spokesman.
Following the talks a spokesperson for President Putin accused some leaders of a "complete unwillingness to understand the reality of southeastern Ukraine".
The spokesperson did not elaborate, but said that the talks over the crisis were tough.
The EU leaders were also expected to confront the Russian president over his warnings that gas supplies to western Europe could be disrupted this winter if Russia cuts deliveries to Ukraine, as it has threatened to do if there is no agreement with the Ukrainian government over payment.
Meeting this morning in Milan on #Ukraine in margins of #ASEM summit pic.twitter.com/gwn0tE90GH
— Herman Van Rompuy (@euHvR) October 17, 2014