This archive report was first published on 27 June 2020.
French President Emmanuel Macron has been pursuing a policy of rapprochement with Russia, reaching out to President Vladimir Putin on key areas of disagreement such as Ukraine, despite discomforting some EU allies.
Macron's efforts come as he bitterly attacked Turkey's intervention in the Libya conflict, which has tipped the balance away from rebel strongman Khalifa Haftar.
France is suspected of favouring Haftar, although Paris insists it is neutral in the conflict. Haftar has endured a series of defeats in recent weeks as Turkey ups its support for the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), raising doubts about the strongman's future.
Macron expressed his concerns about the Turkish presence in Libya to Putin, citing the reinforcement of Turkish forces as a major worry.
However, Macron also raised the issue of foreign interference in Libya, including the presence of mercenaries from the Wagner group, a Russian paramilitary organisation reportedly run by a confidant of Putin.
According to the Kremlin website, Putin told Macron: "I know your mindset aimed at organising joint work on many of these subjects. We will support your proposals in any way possible."
During their two-hour talks, Putin invited Macron to visit Russia, which the French president accepted, although no date has been set. The visit is expected to take place in the next few months, before the end of the year, although the coronavirus crisis will need to be taken into account.
