French President Emmanuel Macron, right, speaks to Russian President Vladimir Putin | Stephane De Sakutin/AFP via Getty Images Macron, standing by Putin, calls RT and Sputnik ‘agents of influence’ French and Russian presidents met in Versailles.

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called Russian state-backed media outlets RT and Sputnik "agents of influence" that spread falsehoods about him during his election campaign — while standing next to Vladimir Putin.

Macron said the two media organizations "did not behave like press outlets, but behaved like agents of influence and propaganda" which spread "serious falsehoods," Macron said. "I will never give in to that."

It was Macron's first time meeting Putin. Aides said the French leader raised "all issues" including state-sponsored cyber hacking. The Macron camp blamed Russia for a hack just before he defeated Marine Le Pen in the second round of the presidential election.

Macron and his Russian counterpart also agreed on the need to restart dialogue on the situation with Ukraine.

"We spoke at length about the details of the situation" in Ukraine, said Macron after the talks, adding that both parties wanted "in the shortest timeframe a dialogue in the Normandy format, and that a full account of the situation can be shared."

The Normandy format refers to dialogue on Ukraine involving Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France.

Macron, who met with the Russian president at Versailles palace near Paris, where an exhibition celebrating Peter the Great's 1717 visit to Paris was being held, added that the peace process in Ukraine "must continue" and called for "de-escalation" of violence.

The French president also said he wanted France and Russia to cooperate in Syria in order to destroy terrorism and restore peace, calling for an "inclusive political solution that goes beyond eradicating terrorists."

"I recalled the importance in France of the respect of all people, all minorities," said Macron. Mentioning the treatment of gay people in Chechnya and non-governmental organizations in Russia, he said: "I will be constantly vigilant on these questions."