Anne Applebaum tweets regarding the joint press conference today by French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Palace of Versailles:
Macron attacks RT and Sputnik as propaganda organs. Nobody has done this in front of Putin before.
Here is the English translation of Macron’s words:
Politicians have the responsibility to take decisions and to do things. When organs of the media respond in a libelous way that is contrary to the truth, they’re no longer journalists. They are organs of influence. Russia Today and Sputnik were organs of influence in this campaign that produced things that were contrary to the truth about myself and my campaign. And that’s why they were not invited to my headquarters. All media outlets, including Russian ones, have had access to my campaign. It’s simple. Relationships are always the same. So it was serious that foreign media outlets interfered by saying serious mistruths during a Democratic campaign. And I will not give into that in any way. But Russia Today and Sputnik have not behaved as media outlets and journalists, but behaved as organs of influence, propaganda, and deceitful propaganda. No more, no less.
Macron also challenged Putin on Syria and gay rights, as NYT reports.
Bravo, President Macron. I am as proud of you as I am ashamed of my own president.