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Vladimir Putin meets French far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in Moscow

24 March 2017 13:51 (UTC +04:00)

Vladimir Putin has received Marine Le Pen in the Kremlin in a surprise move likely to reignite fears in Europe about Russian support for the European far right, The Guardian reported.

Putin told Le Pen Russia had no intention of meddling in the French elections, according to Russian news agencies, though the meeting is likely to send the opposite message.

“We do not want to influence events in any way, but we retain the right to meet with all the different political forces, just like our European and American partners do,” said Putin.

Le Pen travelled to Moscow at the invitation of an MP for meetings in the Russian parliament, and had not been expected to meet Putin. However, after the parliamentary meetings were over the Front National candidate soon appeared in televised pictures from inside the Kremlin.

Le Pen has publicly backed the Russian annexation of Crimea and frequently expressed admiration for Putin.

“Of course, it would be very interesting to share our opinions about how our bilateral relations are doing, and about the situation that is developing in Europe,” Putin told Le Pen. “I know that you represent a European political force that is growing quickly.”

Opinion polls suggest that Le Pen and the independent centrist Emmanuel Macron will go through from the first-round presidential vote on 23 April to the second round run-off on 7 May.