German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Stephen Harper met in Ottawa today to discuss the Ukraine crisis ahead of a proposed summit this week and June's G7 meeting south of Munich.

Ukraine's military has been battling Russian-backed separatists since April in a conflict that the United Nations says has killed 5,300 people, a figure that has spiked in recent weeks.

Harper has taken a harder line toward Russian President Vladimir Putin than his fellow G7 leaders, and on Monday said he continues to prefer a diplomatic solution to what he called the "illegal occupation" by Russia.

"Unfortunately, to this point in time Putin has rejected diplomatic means, he seeks to move his agenda forward through military violence," he said.

"We have provided a whole range of aid to our friends in Ukraine … we'll look at all options, but obviously we'll proceed extremely cautiously in partnership and in collaboration with all of our allies."

Canada has sent around $66 million worth of non-lethal aid to the Ukrainian military, including winter gear and night-vision equipment.

Harper said he and Merkel discussed military involvement against ISIS in Iraq and economic issues ahead of the next G7 meeting set for June 7-8 in Schloss Elmau, Germany,

Merkel said in German that Germany and Canada have worked very well together on the issue and she's grateful Canada and the United States are supportive of the push for a diplomatic solution.

She is expected to begin her return trip to Europe later tonight.