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| Vladimir Putin attends Austrian foreign minister's wedding | Vladimir Putin attends Austrian foreign minister's wedding |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin has attended the wedding of Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, who has been criticised for inviting him. | Russian President Vladimir Putin has attended the wedding of Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, who has been criticised for inviting him. |
| Mr Putin gave her presents and danced with her at the event in the southern Austrian province of Styria. | Mr Putin gave her presents and danced with her at the event in the southern Austrian province of Styria. |
| Opposition politicians have accused Ms Kneissl of undermining EU foreign policy with her choice of guest. | Opposition politicians have accused Ms Kneissl of undermining EU foreign policy with her choice of guest. |
| Mr Putin stopped in Austria on his way to Germany, where he is meeting Chancellor Angela Merkel. | Mr Putin stopped in Austria on his way to Germany, where he is meeting Chancellor Angela Merkel. |
| Ms Kneissl, 53, married entrepreneur Wolfgang Meilinger at a ceremony in the small town of Gamlitz, near the border with Slovenia. | Ms Kneissl, 53, married entrepreneur Wolfgang Meilinger at a ceremony in the small town of Gamlitz, near the border with Slovenia. |
| Mr Putin arrived with a bunch of flowers for the bride and was accompanied by a troupe of Cossack singers who performed for the guests. | Mr Putin arrived with a bunch of flowers for the bride and was accompanied by a troupe of Cossack singers who performed for the guests. |
| His spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media that he also presented the newlyweds with a painting of village life, an antique oil press and a samovar, an urn used to prepare tea in Russia. | His spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media that he also presented the newlyweds with a painting of village life, an antique oil press and a samovar, an urn used to prepare tea in Russia. |
| Mr Putin gave a speech in German and toasted the bride and groom, Mr Peskov added. | Mr Putin gave a speech in German and toasted the bride and groom, Mr Peskov added. |
| Ms Kneissl, an academic with no party affiliation, was picked as foreign minister by Austria's far-right Freedom Party - a coalition partner in the current government. | Ms Kneissl, an academic with no party affiliation, was picked as foreign minister by Austria's far-right Freedom Party - a coalition partner in the current government. |
| The Russian president was invited during a visit to Austria earlier this year. Mr Peskov said Mr Putin "shared a passion for judo" with Mr Meilinger. | The Russian president was invited during a visit to Austria earlier this year. Mr Peskov said Mr Putin "shared a passion for judo" with Mr Meilinger. |
| There has been vigorous debate in the Austrian media about the Russian president's appearance since it was announced this week. | There has been vigorous debate in the Austrian media about the Russian president's appearance since it was announced this week. |
| Members of the country's Green Party are among those calling for the foreign minister to resign over the invitation | |
| Some politicians have voiced concern about the potential cost to taxpayers incurred by increased security for the visit. | Some politicians have voiced concern about the potential cost to taxpayers incurred by increased security for the visit. |
| The Russian president is also holding informal talks with the German chancellor about a number of issues. | |
| Germany is facing pressure from the US to halt work on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project which will transport gas from Russia. | Germany is facing pressure from the US to halt work on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project which will transport gas from Russia. |
| Speaking to the media on Friday, Mrs Merkel said she would like to discuss the possibility of a meeting on Syria with other Nato partners, but that "no specific results are expected" from Saturday's working meeting. | Speaking to the media on Friday, Mrs Merkel said she would like to discuss the possibility of a meeting on Syria with other Nato partners, but that "no specific results are expected" from Saturday's working meeting. |