Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron held a joint press conference after their meeting in Versailles.
The two leaders discussed a key issues related to bilateral economic cooperation and geopolitical hot spots including Syria, Ukraine, Libya and the Korean Peninsula.
The meeting between the two leaders lasted nearly three hours with Macron emphasizing that “Franco-Russian friendship” was at heart of his meeting with the Russian President.
RT notes that President Macron admitted he has “some disagreements” with his Russian counterpart, but said that the two leaders discussed them openly in a frank exchange of views.
The French president said that serious international problems cannot be resolved without Moscow, as he stressed the importance of the role Russia plays in the modern world.
“No major problem in the world can be solved without Russia,” he said during the press conference.
He also said that France is interested in intensifying cooperation with Russia, particularly in resolving the Syrian crisis. The French leader went on to say that this issue demands “an inclusive political solution.”
Macron said that fighting Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) remains an “absolute priority” for France and serves as one of the reasons for the reinforcement of cooperation with Russia.
At the same time, he also said that the use of chemical weapons is a “red line” that should not be crossed, adding that the use of such weapons in Syria would trigger a “reprisal” from France.
President Putin said that Russia and France are determined to cooperate in resolving the crises in Syria, Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula, as well as to fight terrorism together. The Russian leader added that he and Macron had particularly agreed to establish a working group on fighting terrorism.
Macron welcomes Russian President Putin at France’s Palace of Versailles…
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