HELSINKI—Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko are regular in contact over developments in Ukraine, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said Saturday after concluding a two-day trip to Russia and Ukraine.

Putin, Poroshenko Are in Regular Contact, Says Finnish Leader

Monday August 18th, 2014 at 12:31 PM

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Aug. 16, 2014 11:38 a.m. ET

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, right, speaks with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto during a meeting in Kiev on Saturday Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

HELSINKI—Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko are regular in contact over developments in Ukraine, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said Saturday after concluding a two-day trip to Russia and Ukraine.

Mr. Niinisto held a three-hour meeting with Mr. Poroshenko in Kiev on Saturday, after a meeting of a roughly equal length with Mr. Putin in the Russian resort town of Sochi on Friday.

"Mr. Putin had no concrete requests," Mr. Niinisto told to reporters at Helsinki Airport. But he added, "In my understanding, [Mr. Putin and Mr. Poroshenko] are exchanging views."

The Finnish president's visit followed claims that the Ukrainian government destroyed much of a column of Russian armored vehicles that had rolled over the border into Ukrainian territory held by pro-Moscow rebels.

Mr. Niinisto said the highest priority is to bring a swift end to fighting in Ukraine. For this to be possible, Russia should ensure that no arms cross the border from Russia to eastern Ukraine, he said.

Mr. Niinisto said he has observed some nascent efforts being made to create proper conditions for a cease-fire in east Ukraine. At the same time, he emphasized the need to build and maintain "open dialogue" between various parties.

After Mr. Niinisto met with Mr. Putin on Friday, Mr. Putin spoke at length about Russia's economic ties with Finland but didn't comment in detail about any specific development or aspect regarding the crisis in Ukraine.

"We will do everything within our power to end this military conflict as soon as possible, establish a dialogue between all parties concerned, and provide humanitarian aid to those who need it," Mr. Putin said, according to a transcript released by the Kremlin.

Mr. Putin's meeting with Mr. Niinisto was his first with a European Union leader on Russian soil since February, when the Winter Olympics were held in Sochi and shortly before Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Write to Juhana Rossi at juhana.rossi@wsj.com