Russian President Vladimir Putin is wooing French counterpart Emmanuel Macron with closer business ties, hosting him as an honored guest at his annual economic forum in St. Petersburg while sealing a major new gas deal with France’s Total.
Economic relations between the two countries “are developing despite all the current complications” caused by European Union sanctions on Russia over its aggression in Ukraine, disagreements over Syria and other matters, Putin said before a 3 1/2-hour meeting with Macron on May 24.
