Macron warns Putin over Syrian chemical weapons in 'frank' meeting

French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that France would respond immediately to any use of chemical weapons in Syria, while urging a closer partnership with Russia in fighting the Islamic State in the country.

“A very clear red line exists on our side – that is the use of chemical weapons by whomever,” Macron said at a joint news conference after his first meeting with the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin.

The two leaders met on Monday at the Palace of Versailles. The meeting was aimed at defining the two leaders’ personal relationship after tension and mistrust during the French presidential election campaign and suggestions Russia had sought to meddle in the French democratic process.

Emerging from the two-hour meeting, Macron and Putin vowed to improve the strained relations between their countries, while admitting to disagreements during talks described by Macron as "extremely frank".

Macron said he wanted to strengthen cooperation with Russia in seeking a solution to the Syria conflict. He said this involved talking to all parties in a “diplomatic and political framework”.

Relations between France and Russia have been plagued by mistrust in the past few years, particularly over Syria and Ukraine. The two countries are in stark opposition over the Syrian civil war, with Moscow backing Assad and France supporting rebel groups trying to overthrow him.

However, Macron added that France would show “no weakness” if chemical weapons were used, and would immediately respond.

Evidence published last month has indicated the Assad regime had used toxic sarin gas on the town of Khan Sheikhun, an attack that provoked the US to launch missiles on a Syrian air base in its first targeted attack against the Syrian president’s forces.

On his part, Putin warned that sanctions against Russia over Ukraine would “in no way” resolve the crisis. Both leaders agreed the time was right for a new round of peace talks on Ukraine.

France helped spearhead the EU’s economic sanctions on Russia over the seizure of Crimea and Russian backing for insurgents in the east of the former Soviet republic.