Vladimir Putin has said French authorities asked that he and Donald Trump not arrange any meetings during the First World War commemorations in Paris.

“At their request, we will not organise any meetings here,” Mr Putin reportedly told state broadcaster RT on Sunday, adding that Russia did not want to “violate” the weekend’s scheduled events.

Mr Trump and Mr Putin were also kept apart at a working lunch in the Élysée Palace by French officials, who reportedly switched their seats at the last minute.

Despite the apparent attempts to keep the Russian and US presidents apart – over fears any official talks would overshadow the occasion – Mr Putin said they managed a “good” talk at the lunch.

The pair made headlines on Saturday when Mr Trump was captured on camera beaming at Mr Putin’s approach, before the Russian leader gave his US counterpart a thumbs up after shaking hands.

Donald Trump beams at the approach of Vladimir Putin in Paris (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

As has become routine on his foreign visits, Mr Trump’s Paris trip quickly descended into a series of blunders and unforced errors which cast a shadow over the entire weekend.

Shortly after touching down in the French capital, the US president attacked Emmanuel Macron on Twitter over his calls for a European army, and triggered outrage back home after threatening to withdraw federal funds from California over its handling of record-breaking forest fires.

Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Show all 16 1 /16 Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki Reuters Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests An advert from Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat is on display in Helsinki Reuters Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump in a meeting with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump meets with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki EPA Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump talks with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Mantyniemi, the official residence of the Finnish President EPA Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests US, Finnish and Russian flags fly in front of the Presidential Palace in Helsinki EPA Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests A protester wears a mask featuring a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin during the so-called "Helsinki against Trump and Putin" demonstration on July 16, 2018, in the Finnish capital Helsinki. The US and Russian leaders opened an historic summit in Helsinki on Monday, with Donald Trump promising an "extraordinary relationship" and Vladimir Putin saying it was high time to thrash out disputes around the world. / AFP PHOTO / Jonathan NACKSTRANDJONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images JONATHAN NACKSTRAND AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Vladimir Putin gifts a football to President Trump at the press conference that followed their meeting AP Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Trump supporters hold banners during a demonstration in Helsinki AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests People protest for women's reproductive rights in Helsinki's Senate Square Reuters Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests A crowd watches the motorcade transporting President Trump through Helsinki AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Russian President Putin drives through Helsinki on his way to meet with President Trump EPA Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests A man in the audience of the joint press conference holds up a sign sign that reads "NUCLEAR WEAPON BAN TREATY". REUTERS Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests A man is removed from the joint press conference in Helsinki. Security removed the man after he pulled out a sign that read "NUCLEAR WEAPON BAN TREATY". REUTERS Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump and Russia's President Putin sit for a working lunch in Finland's Presidential Palace AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki Reuters

Mr Trump also sparked condemnation for cancelling a visit to a First World War cemetery due to “poor weather”, drawing unfavourable comparisons to a number of political leaders who tackled the weather.

Dmitry Peskov, Mr Putin’s spokesperson, said the Russian president and Mr Trump had agreed to hold a meeting at the G20 summit in Argentina at the end of the month, according to Russian news agency Interfax.

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“Both they [the US] and we are determined to restore the dialogue,” Mr Putin told RT, in reference to Washington’s decision to withdraw from a crucial Cold War-era nuclear missile treaty.