Macron and Putin lament cancellation of US-North Korea summit

The French and Russian presidents both lamented the cancellation of the June 12 summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un.

Speaking at a joint press conference following their meeting in St Petersburg Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron said they hoped dialogue would prevail:

"Kim Jong Un, on his side, did everything he promised. He even blew up tunnels and mines on his test ranges but after that we heard that the USA had cancelled the meeting" said the Russian President, before adding that he still hoped the dialogue between the two countries would be renewed.

The French President said he hoped that the cancellation would just be "a small event" in a larger process that would continue.

Among other topics discussed during Macron's visit were a solution to the conflict in Syria, and keeping Iran and Europe on good terms following the US's withdrawal from the nuclear agreement.