Putin, Security Council Discuss Issues of Safety at 2018 FIFA World Cup

The Russian president and Security Council members discussed preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with the permanent members of the Russian Security Council issues of ensuring safety at the FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia in 2018, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday.

"They held a discussion on the need to draw lessons on ensuring security from France’s experience in organizing football activities in the context of Russia’s ongoing preparations for the 2018 World Cup," Peskov told reporters.

The meeting was attended by Russian ministers and top officials, including Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Kremlin Chief of Staff Sergei Ivanov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko, Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov, head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Mikhail Fradkov, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and his deputy Rashid Nurgaliyev were also present at the meeting.

France is hosting the Euro 2016 football championship, which started on Friday and is due to end on July 10.

In 2018, the FIFA World Cup will be held from June 14 to July 15 across 11 Russian cities, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi and Volgograd.