Putin meets Macron and denies meddling charges
Print Edition
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin, who held his first meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron near Paris yesterday, said there was nothing to discuss about allegations of Moscow’s meddling in foreign elections, and that Macron had not raised this issue.
By meeting Macron’s presidential election rival Marine Le Pen in Moscow in March, the Kremlin did not try to influence the vote, Putin told a joint news briefing with Macron.
Referring to Le Pen’s visit, Putin said he saw nothing wrong in Moscow not pushing away foreign politicians seeking good relations with Russia. If she sought a meeting, why should Russia refuse her, Putin asked.
Macron accused pro-Kremlin news outlets Russia Today and Sputnik of being “organs of influence and propaganda” against him in this year’s presidential election.
Macron made the remark in answer to a question at the joint news conference.
In the run-up to the second round of the election on May 7, aides to Macron accused the Kremlin of mounting a “smear campaign” against the candidate via state media.
Macron also told reporters that France would respond immediately to any use of chemical weapons in Syria, while urging a stepped-up “partnership” with Moscow in fighting the Islamic State group in the country.
“A very clear red line exists on our side, the use of chemical weapons by whomever,” Macron said.
“Our absolute priority is the fight against terrorism and the eradication of terrorist groups and Daesh in particular,” he said, using an alternate name for the Islamic State group.
“It’s the guiding principle of our action in Syria and in which I want for us to be able to strengthen our partnership with Russia.”
The newly elected French leader said he favored “a democratic transition” in Syria that would “preserve the Syrian state.”
He added that “failed states in the region are a threat to our democracies, and we have seen each time they have enabled terrorist groups to advance.”
Putin told reporters that Western sanctions against Russia were doing nothing to solve the Ukrainian conflict.
Asked if sanctions against Russia were helping to stop the fighting in eastern Ukraine, Putin said: “Here is the answer: in no way. Let’s fight for all the restrictions in the global economy to be scrapped.”
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