Today, Vladimir Putin is on a brief working visit to Paris. He's taking part in a ceremony to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.
My colleague Stas Natanzon is following the President's trip to the capital of France. He's live now.
- Hello, Stas. Could you tell us any details on Vladimir Putin's schedule in Paris? Are there any plans on negotiations with leaders of the member states of the ceremony?
- Hello, Vera. No, Vladimir Putin hasn't planned any full-fledged bilateral talks in Paris. It is known that French President Emmanuel Macron urged all the participants of the ceremony in honor of the centenary of the end of the First World War not to organize parallel political events so as not to blur the informational background of that event organized by France.
I should say that the weather today isn't very good for open-air ceremonies. Moreover, many heads of states and governments were offered to walk to the Arc de Triomphe, you can see it behind my back, along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. It was quite rainy and windy. We saw wind almost tore out an umbrella from the hands of President of Lithuania Mrs. Grybauskaite. American President Donald Trump came by car to the Arc de Triomphe, to the place where the ceremony was held. Vladimir Putin came there right after him. We saw the President of Russia, having come to the ceremony, shook hands with Emmanuel Macron standing next to him, then with Angela Merkel and then with Donald Trump. He also showed thumb up to the American President as if saying everything is alright. It's known Putin and Trump should've held bilateral negotiations in Paris Macron asked not to do so. Apparently, talks will be held at the G20 summit in late November.
Today's ceremony looks like Macron's benefit performance. He walked in front of troops with seemingly stern or maybe solemn air. The French national anthem was played twice. For quite a long time, only Macron was giving, in fact, he still is, his speech. No public statements except those concerning the ceremony were planned for today. A little later, Vladimir Putin should lay flowers at the monument to the soldiers and officers of the Russian expeditionary corps, who defended Paris from Germans in the First World War.
Then Vladimir Putin should take part in a ceremonial lunch for distinguished guests, where, it is possible, he'll have a quick talk with Donald Trump as well. Sources say they will touch on the issue of medium-range and short-range missiles, the treaty the US has withdrawn from.
- Thank you, Stas. Stas Natanzon has told us about Vladimir Putin's visit to Paris.
