Macron scolds Putin over election
FRANCE: French President Emmanuel Macron has accused Russian state-sponsored media of using ‘‘lying propaganda’’ to try to smear his electoral campaign, in an angry outburst as he stood alongside his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
The new French leader also threatened an ‘‘instant response’’ should chemical weapons be used in Syria, in a muscular exchange with Putin at Louis XIV’S sumptuous Versailles palace outside Paris yesterday.
But he also pledged that the two countries would forge a deeper ‘‘partnership’’ in fighting terrorism.
Fresh from a Nato meeting in Brussels and a G7 summit in Sicily, Macron promised ‘‘demanding dialogue’’ with Putin, who was in France to celebrate 300 years of Franco-russian diplomacy and an exhibition about Tsar Peter the Great.
After ‘‘frank and direct’’ talks, the two men emerged into the Gallery of Great Battles, whose paintings chart 15 centuries of French victories, including over the Russians at Austerlitz.
Macron accused pro-kremlin news outlet Russia Today and Sputnik of being ‘‘organs of influence and propaganda, of lying propaganda’’ against him in this year’s presidential election.
During that campaign, Macron’s camp barred the two statefunded Russian outlets from accessing its campaign headquarters, saying they were engaged in a ‘‘smear campaign’’. It also accused the Russians of having a hand in a massive cyberattack on key Macron aides.
Putin declined to comment on the media ban, but brushed off the hacking allegations, saying: ‘‘Actions cannot be based on hunches, hunches that are moreover unconfirmed.’’
He also fended off claims he had sought to influence the election outcome by meeting Macron’s farright rival Marine Le Pen, whom he appeared to back during the campaign. ’’That doesn’t mean we tried to influence the results of elections; indeed, it’s almost impossible,’’ he said.
On the conflict in Syria, Macron warned: ‘‘A very clear red line exists on our side, the use of chemical weapons by whomever.’’ This, he said, would spark ‘‘reprisals and instant response... from the French side’’, without providing further details. Another red line was guaranteeing humanitarian access to besieged civilians.
Macron also put Putin on the spot by saying he had promised ‘‘the whole truth’’ about accusations of a crackdown on gay people in Chechnya. The Russian president’s visit coincided with the arrival in France of the first Chechen gay person to be granted asylum because of persecution.
This was the latest diplomatic test for Macron since his election two weeks ago.
The visit was designed to warm ties between the two countries, which have remained frosty over Syria and Ukraine.
‘‘Our absolute priority is the fight against terrorism and the eradication of terrorist groups, and Daesh (Islamic State) in particular,’’ he said. ‘‘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.’’
Macron said he favoured ‘‘a democratic transition’’ in Syria that would ‘‘preserve the Syrian state’’ to avoid further chaos.
Both leaders also agreed that the time was right for a new round of peace talks on Ukraine, Macron confirmed. They hoped to start talks between the leaders of Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine in days or weeks.
- Telegraph Group