MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to hold a meeting with Germany's Angela Merkel on the sidelines of a G20 summit starting in Australia on Saturday, Interfax reported on Friday, citing Putin's spokesman.

Tensions are likely to be felt between Western leaders and Putin at the summit, following fresh accusations from Kiev that Russia has sent troops into eastern Ukraine. Russia denies the accusations.

(Reporting by Alexander Winning, Editing by Thomas Grove)