FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

At a tense press conference at Versailles, Mr Macron said influential media outlets had lied about him throughout his election campaign. "I've always had exemplary relations with foreign journalists, but they have to be journalists!” said Mr Macron. "Russia Today and Sputnik were organs of influence and propaganda, which spread infamous counter-truths about me."

EPA Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron appeared tense in their first face-to-face meeting

GETTY Mr Macron launched a furious attack on Moscow's allegedly fake news media

Mr Macron was accused of being a corrupt tax-dodger who used an offshore account to shield his millions. There were also rumours about the private life of the 39-year old, whose wife Brigitte Macron is 25 years his senior. In the face of such fake news, Mr Macron said he had no option but to ban certain Russian journalists from his campaign headquarters.

France's First Lady Brigitte Macron in pictures Tue, July 17, 2018 Brigitte Macron is a former high school teacher and the wife of the French politician Emmanuel Macron. See her most recent pictures. Play slideshow REUTERS•Getty 1 of 100 France's First Lady Brigitte Macron in pictures

Mr Putin remained stony faced and did not reply when Mr Macron made the accusations.

Russia Today and Sputnik were organs of influence and propaganda Emmanuel Macron

But the Russian President did reject allegations that Moscow wanted far-Right candidate Marine Le Pen to beat Mr Macron. Commenting on a visit by Ms Le Pen, the Front National leader, to Moscow just before polling day, Mr Putin said: "It did not mean we tried to influence the election result. Moreover it would be almost impossible to do so, anyway.

GETTY He said influential media outlets had lied about him throughout his election campaign

"We are not children – we are serious men." The press conference followed the two presidents' first face-to-face talks and also coincided with the inauguration of an exhibition marking 300 years of Franco-Russian relations. The meeting was seen as an opportunity to rebuild strained bilateral ties, especially over the war in Syria, where Russia is a great supporter of dictator Bashar al-Assad. Mr Putin, 64, cancelled his last planned visit to Paris in October after the then French president, Francois Hollande, said Russian bombing attacks in Syria amounted to war crimes.

GETTY Mr Putin remained stony faced and did not reply when Mr Macron made the accusations