U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott chat prior to the start of the Welcome to Country ceremony by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people at the G-20 summit in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014. AP Photo/Mark Baker,Pool BRISBANE, Australia (AP) - President Barack Obama huddled Sunday with European leaders to discuss the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, where officials say the security situation is worsening. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Group of 20 economic summit in Brisbane, Australia. Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the summit and faced a chorus of criticism from world leaders about his government's role in fueling the Ukraine crisis. The Russian leader departed Australia shortly before Obama and European leaders opened their talks. French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron were among the European leaders attending the meeting, along with leaders from Italy and Spain and EU representatives. The U.S. and European Union have levied multiple rounds of sanctions against Russia, but the penalties have failed to change Putin's calculus. The West accuses Russia of arming and supplying rebel forces that have destabilized cities in eastern Ukraine. The White House said the leaders in Sunday's meeting also were expected to discuss a proposed trade agreement between the U.S. and European Union.