"This will be an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations and problems that we consider urgent and that we are both working to resolve," Putin said ahead of the meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit.
"We have spent a lot of time today talking about international, global economic problems, and will now take on more modest issues related to France and Russia," he continued.
French leader Francois Hollande said Sunday he wanted to discuss Ukraine and Syria with Russian President Vladimir Putin at their one-on-one meeting.
"I think we must discuss the situation in Syria and Ukraine because we are all involved in attempts to resolve these problems," Hollande said ahead of the meeting on the margins of the G20 summit.
"As for Ukraine, we need to cooperate within the ‘Normandy Format,’ and in the case of Syria, we must aim at a comprehensive dialog and, despite that all sides have resorted to some military action, we must pursue a political solution to this crisis," he emphasized.
Hollande said that he planned to discuss with Russian President Vladimir Putin his scheduled visit to France in October.
"Dear Vladimir [Putin], I wanted to personally see you on the sidelines of this G20 [summit], because political problems do have economic consequences. When there are wars, conflicts, terrorism, refugees — all of this has consequences for the economy, not to mention the suffering experienced by the nations, who are facing such a problem. I would also like to discuss the preparation for the visit to France, which you plan to perform in October. In the framework of this visit, a series of symbolic gestures is planned, including the inauguration of the Russian center," Hollande said at the meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the G20 summit in China.
In April, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, on behalf of Hollande, invited Putin to visit France.
