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Macron, Putin discuss Iran, Syria, Ukraine
May 24, 2018, 5:49 pm

The two leaders are trying to salvage the Iran nuclear deal after US President Donald Trump announced that he would be withdrawing from the deal [PPIO]


French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in St Petersburg, Russia on Thursday and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Konstantinovsky Palace for what some have said would be difficult talks.

The two leaders are expected to discuss multiple crises including US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, the war in Syria, as well as the crisis in Ukraine.

“We will use this opportunity to thoroughly discuss bilateral relations, which are evolving despite all the current difficulties and our trade keeps growing,” Putin said after meeting Macron. But he also stressed that the two leaders will discuss global issues which both are working on resolving.

Both countries disagree with Trump’s stance on Iran, and have been working with other European partners and China to save the deal signed in Vienna just three years ago.

“I believe that we can find solutions and work together on all the issues, be it Ukraine, the Middle East, Iran or Syria,” the French president said in remarks carried by the Russian news agency TASS.

Macron is also attending the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) as a special guest.

The Forum draws thousands of business leaders, experts, financiers and organizations from around the world to discuss challenges facing Russia and other countries in the region.

Macron told the press that France and Russia will sign “critically important contracts in various areas”.

The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies