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Emmanuel Macron says he held "extremely frank" talks with Vladimir Putin, before openly launching into an extraordinary attack on Russian media outlets who he accused of spreading "deceitful propaganda" during France's presidential campaign.
Key points:
- Mr Macron accuses Russian media of behaving "like organs of influence" during the election
- Mr Putin denies the claim as both leaders express optimism at improved ties
- Syria and the fight against terrorism are seen as key issues with shared goals
Following their first face-to-face meeting in Versailles, the French President's full-on blast at the state news agency Sputnik and broadcaster Russia Today came at a news conference with the Russian President standing at his side.
"I will not give an inch on this. During the campaign, Russia Today and Sputnik were agents of influence which on several occasions spread fake news about me personally and my campaign," Mr Macron said.
"They behaved like organs of influence, propaganda, and deceitful propaganda. No more, no less."
Mr Putin, seemingly unfazed during the conference in Versailles, later vehemently denied any suggestion that Russia sought to influence the election speaking to reporters in Paris.
"Do you think that we are ignorant of the results of the elections? We're not kids, we're not children," Mr Putin said.
The comments underscored the clear differences between the two men on multiple issues and fulfilled the French President's campaign promises to pull no punches with Russia when needed.
But after more than two hours of meetings — their first since Mr Macron's May 7 election and longer than scheduled — both leaders also signalled a shared desire not to let disagreements define their fledgling relationship.
"Big things are built over time," Mr Macron said.
"It was an exchange that was extremely frank, direct, with a lot of things that were said.
"We have disagreements, but at least we talked about them."
Fighting terrorism offers common ground
Speaking through a translator, Mr Putin said the two countries were "totally capable of trying to progress together" on world affairs.
The fight against terrorism, in particular, appeared to offer common ground.
Mr Putin said Mr Macron proposed a framework for French and Russian anti-terror experts to meet and work together.
And both leaders agreed they did not want Syria — where Russia is propping up the government of President Bashar Assad — to collapse into a failed state.
"[Progress in Syria] will happen by a joint effort, which today we laid the foundations for," Mr Macron said.
Mr Macron said any use of chemical weapons in Syria was a "red line" for France and would be met by "reprisals" and an "immediate riposte" from the French Government, Mr Macron said.
He did not specify the form of such reprisals, but France flies warplanes over Syria and Iraq, striking Islamic State targets as part of an international coalition.
Mr Macron was the first Western leader to speak to Mr Putin after the Group of Seven summit the French leader attended over the weekend, where relations with Russia were a key topic.
These first forays into world diplomacy by Mr Macron, who has never before held elected office, have shown the 39-year-old to be a quick learner and self-confident, willing to take the calculated risk of voicing firm views on thorny issues.
After the deterioration in ties under Mr Macron's predecessor, Socialist Francois Hollande, Mr Putin had expressed hope that in Mr Macron and his team there would be "more people who understand us".
ABC/wires
Topics: world-politics, foreign-affairs, france, russian-federation
First posted