The choice of the table for the talks between Russian and French presidents Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron was related to the current situation in the world with the coronavirus, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this, according to Podyem's Telegram channel.

"Exclusively epidemiological measures," the Russian leader's spokesman explained.

Earlier, a number of foreign publications drew attention to the very long table at which Putin and Macron sat during talks in Moscow. In particular, the British newspaper The Sun noted that the Russian president held the meeting with his French counterpart, seating him at the other end of a large table to keep his distance. For his part, Daily Mail journalists suggested that in this way Putin wanted to point to the gap that currently exists between Russia and the West.

Earlier, a photo of the two leaders at a meeting in the Kremlin became a meme on social networks. In particular, users joked that it was because of the length of the table that the talks between Putin and Macron lasted so long, Lenta reported.

The talks between the two leaders were held in the Kremlin on 7 February and lasted more than five hours. Following the meeting, Putin said that the meeting with Macron was conducted in a businesslike manner, it was substantive and useful. The head of state also said that he had discussed with the French president the non-expansion of NATO and the situation around Ukraine.