Putin visits new Orthodox Church in Paris

The Russian government owns the church, the gold-domed centerpiece of a 100 million euros ($112 million) Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Center that includes a school. Putin invited his counterpart to Moscow. He then kissed an icon and lit a candle. Putin promised to discuss the civil rights issue of LGBT people in the North Caucasus with Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika and Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev.

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 be demanding in my exchanges with Russian Federation”, he added.

Part of the exhibit at a former palace on the grounds of Versailles illustrates how French artists inspired Russians.

Moscow strongly denied all allegations of election meddling, and Putin on Monday again poo-pooed the idea as unfounded press speculation. “Sometimes they succeeded, sometimes not”.

He described RT and Sputnik as organs of influence and he had banned the two outlets from his campaign headquarters after suspicions of Kremlin interference, including a massive cyberattack just before his election victory.

The Russian leader went on to say that his talks with Macron helped the pair to find common points in dealing with major worldwide problems, and the that two sides would try to further bring together their views on these issues.

She added, “By labeling any news reporting he disagrees with as fake news, President Macron sets a risky precedent that threatens both freedom of speech and journalism at large”. Joel Deumier, president of French gay rights’ group SOS Homophobie, confirmed the refugee’s arrival on news channel France Info on Monday.

“I also invite Mr. President to Russian Federation, and I hope that he will be able to spend several weeks in Moscow”, Putin said.

According to two polls, Macron’s new centrist party, En Marche! is in first place, followed by the center-right Republicans and the far-right National Front of Marine Le Pen in a close race for second and third. Le Pen’s lopsided electoral defeat to Macron has left the party fragile and internal divisions have surfaced.

“I will be demanding in my exchanges with Russia”, Macron said after the G7 summit on Saturday.

Macron then said that France is interested in intensifying cooperation with Russian Federation, particularly in resolving the Syrian crisis.

Macron said he had a frank exchange of views with Putin, and that the two had aired their disagreements on a number of subjects. We are convinced that he did not use them, ‘ Putin said. Putin, who supports al-Assad, said he believes the stability of the Syrian state is crucial to combatting terrorism. Russian Federation backs President Bashar Assad’s embattled regime, while France supports the rebel factions seeking his removal from power.

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) speaks to Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) in the Galerie des Batailles (Gallery of Battles) as they arrive for a joint press conference at the Chateau de Versailles before the opening of an exhibition marking 300 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries in Versailles, France, May 29, 2017.