20 Aug 2019 15:15

Peskov calls Putin-Macron dialogue constructive, trust-based

MOSCOW. Aug 20 (Interfax) - The August 19 talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron were constructive and trust-based, and the two leaders demonstrated their political will to discuss both matters the two countries disagree on as well as issues where their positions coincide, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

The presidents' one-on-one meeting was accompanied by meetings of the Russian and French foreign ministers and presidential foreign affairs aides, he said.

"All this can be characterized as a very content-rich and also quite constructive and trust-based dialogue. They compared notes on key issues both on the bilateral and international agenda," Peskov said.

Putin returned to Moscow from France at around 6:00 a.m., Peskov said, adding that the leaders' talks had lasted well into the evening.

"The heads of state outlined the main range of topics they planned to discuss during a press conference that this time innovatively preceded the talks themselves," he said.

"On the whole, the talks were positive," he said.

"It doesn't mean that they agreed with one another, but they quite consistently demonstrated their political will to discuss all topics - both matters where their opinions coincide and issues they disagree on," Peskov said.

When commenting on the results of the Putin-Macron talks ahead of a G7 summit, due to open in the coming days, Peskov said that "the sides compared notes, and Macron now knows Russia's stance on the most important issues."

"And he knows it not on the basis of some fake news or loose interpretations, but from the primary source of information - the head of the Russian state," Peskov said.

"This is what makes such meetings so valuable," he said.