Putin takes a shine to FN leader

MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin held an unprecedented meeting with French presidential contender Marine Le Pen at the Kremlin yesterday, soon after the National Front (FN) leader had urged a joint fight against terrorism and an end to European Union sanctions against his country.

‘‘We’re not trying in any way to influence events but we reserve the right for ourselves to meet with representatives of all political forces of the country,’’ Putin said.

The visit by the far-right firebrand came a day after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hailed Le Pen and US President Donald Trump as ‘‘realists’’.

Le Pen, who polls predict is likely to reach the May 7 runoff for the presidency, is Putin’s most outspoken admirer among the top five French candidates. She openly backs his 2014 annexation of Crimea, which, along with the covert Russian military intervention in eastern Ukraine, prompted the EU to impose punitive measures.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin and Le Pen did not discuss financial aid for the FN. Le Pen is seeking money to help her finance her presidential run, and says French banks are refusing to lend her the millions of euros she needs. Bloomberg