Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend a summit of European and Asian leaders in Italy next month, Reuters reported Monday, Sept 29, citing two diplomats familiar with the plans.

The summit, which takes place every two years, is being held in Milan on Oct 16-17. It would be the first opportunity for Putin to meet with top European leaders since D-Day celebrations in Normandy, France back in June.

The news came as a fragile three-week-old ceasefire in Ukraine was severely strained by the killing of seven Ukrainian soldiers on Sunday night.