France will be one of seven EU members states to send a representative to mark Vladimir Putin's sham presidential inauguration. The despotic Russian leader is serving a sixth term in office and if he remains in power for the full length of it, he will become the longest-serving Russian ruler in more than 200 years.

       Despite a plea from Kyiv not to send a representative, France will defy the request and send their ambassador to the event. The United States vowed to ignore Putin's back-slapping ceremony, refusing to recognise the legitimacy of his election by sending a representative.

       The UK is not sending a representative either.

       Matthew Miller, a U.S. State Department spokesperson, said: "No, we will not have a representative at his inauguration. We certainly did not consider that election free and fair but he is the president of Russia and he is going to continue in that capacity."

       Putin is the longest-serving Russia leader since murderous dictator Joseph Stalin, but he will overtake the Georgian-born leader of the USSR if he completes his sixth term.

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       France's decision to send a representative to Moscow comes shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron was at close quarters with the leader of another of the West's strategic rivals: President Xi of China.

       President's Xi's arrival sparked controversy, when his vehicle stopped at the entrance of the Elysee Palace, forcing the 46-year-old leader to cross the courtyard to greet him.

       Mr Macron has attempted to recast himself as one of Europe's most hawkish leaders, speaking stridently in defence of Ukraine and ramping up the rhetoric towards Russia.

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       In reference to China's role in the maintenance of global peace, Mr Macron said: "We are at a turning point in our history”.

       He added that “the future of our continent will very clearly also depend on our ability to develop balanced relations with China.”