Image copyright AFP Image caption Mr Putin took his host for a twirl, ignoring the controversy about the invitation

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.

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 held talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Ms Kneissl, 53, married entrepreneur Wolfgang Meilinger, 54, at a ceremony in the small town of Gamlitz, near the border with Slovenia.

Image copyright EPA Image caption Mr Meilinger shares a love of judo with Mr Putin

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.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the guests appreciated the performance by the Cossack choir

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.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Ms Kneissl also tried Cossack dancing

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.

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.

In Germany, the Russian president held informal talks with Mrs Merkel for three hours at Meseberg castle, north of Berlin. They were due to discuss Syria and Ukraine, as well as Russian gas supplies to Europe.

Germany is facing pressure from the US to halt work on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project

The meeting ended without a news conference. Mr Putin later flew back to Russia.</s>Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the wedding of Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl on Saturday, in a visit that the opposition says has damaged Austria’s reputation for political neutrality.

Putin was one of around 100 guests at Kneissl’s wedding to businessman Wolfgang Meilinger in the picturesque village of Gamlitz in southeastern Austria.

The Russian leader was pictured dancing with Kneissl during the festivities. He also brought a Cossack choir to perform for the newly weds.

Austrian opposition politicians had criticised the invitation to Putin saying it undermined Austria’s claim to be an “honest broker” between Europe and Russia, with the Green party calling for Kneissl’s resignation.

Russia has been accused of seeking to weaken and divide the EU, notably by maintaining links with populist parties in several European countries.

Hundreds of police officers were deployed for the ceremony and the road from nearby Graz airport to Gamlitz was shut in both directions for Putin’s arrival and departure.

Putin was accompanied to the airport by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and went straight on to Germany for a planned meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Among the other guests at the wedding were Kurz, of the centre-right People’s Party (OeVP) and Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, of the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe).

Kneissl was nominated for the post of foreign minister by the FPOe, which since 2016 has had a “cooperation pact” with Putin’s United Russia party.

Since last December, the FPOe has been in government in coalition with Kurz’s OeVP after a campaign in which both parties ran on an anti-immigration platform.

Putin’s visit comes amid reports of other Western countries becoming warier of intelligence co-operation with Austria because of suspicion that the FPOe and its Interior Minister Herbert Kickl are trying to exert influence on intelligence agencies.

Unnamed intelligence officials told the Washington Post newspaper that police raids on the BVT domestic intelligence agency in February caused particular concern.

“The alarms are going off. What happened in Austria reminds me of what autocrats would do,” one senior European intelligence official told the paper.</s>BERLIN -- Russian President Vladimir Putin made a flying visit to Austria to attend the wedding of the country's foreign minister Saturday before heading to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Photos showed Putin dancing with the bride, who was dressed in a traditional Austrian costume.

Austrian authorities imposed tight security measures around the site of the ceremony near the southern border with Slovenia, where Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl married her partner Wolfgang Meilinger, a businessman. Kneissl, an independent, was nominated by the pro-Russia Austrian Freedom Party, whose leaders also attended the wedding.

According to Austrian public broadcaster ORF, Putin also brought a small Cossack men's choir along to entertain about 100 guests at the wedding.

Austrian lawmaker Joerg Leichtfried of the opposition Social Democratic Party criticized Kneissl's decision to invite Putin to the wedding, saying it called into question Austria's role as a neutral intermediary in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Russia-backed rebels are battling government forces. Austria currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency.

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies that the Russian president spent about an hour at the wedding. Putin gave the newlyweds a cold press oil machine, a traditional Russian samovar and a landscape painting that "depicts the place where the groom hails from," according to Peskov.

Peskov said Putin said "quite a long toast in German in which he said he was thankful and happy that he got a chance to visit the hospitable Austria."

Speaking hours later alongside Merkel before the two leaders held bilateral talks at the German government's guesthouse in Meseberg, north of Berlin, Putin said they would discuss bilateral ties, economic cooperation and Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline beneath the Baltic Sea.

The United States and some European countries have criticized the pipeline, saying it could increase Europe's energy dependence on Russia, harm Ukraine - currently a major gas transit country - and pose an environmental risk.

"Nord Steam 2 is purely an economic project and it doesn't close the door to shipping gas through Ukraine," Putin said. Transit fees for Russian gas are an important item contributing to the Ukrainian budget.

With protesters audible Saturday outside the guesthouse in Meseberg, Putin also raised the issue of humanitarian aid and funding for international reconstruction in Syria.

"It's important to help those areas that the refugees can return to," he said. "I think it's in everyone's interests, including Europe's."

Germany, which has taken in hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees fleeing the war, has in the past insisted it wouldn't contribute to the reconstruction of Syria before a political settlement to end the war has been reached.

Merkel said the talks would also touch on the possibility of establishing a United Nations mission to help bring about peace in Ukraine.</s>Revealing pictures from inside the wedding of the Austrian foreign minister show Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrating as her guest of honor.

The Russian President, whose attendance at the event was criticized by many politicians within Austria, was snapped playing with dogs and dancing with the bride at the intimate ceremony.

Putin sat at the top table at the reception in the Austrian town of Graz alongside bride Karin Kneissl, a politician supported by the pro-Russia Austrian Freedom Party.

He was also pictured applauding as the groom made a speech and adding his signature to the bodywork of the wedding car - an Austrian tradition.

Austrian authorities imposed tight security measures around the site of the ceremony near the southern town of Graz for the celebrations as Putin flew in over the weekend.

Kneissl, 53, who married businessman Wolfgang Meilinger, invited Putin to the ceremony when the Russian president was visiting Vienna this year, presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov said.

The independent foreign minister first met the Russian president 17 years ago at a summit in Slovenia with the then US President George Bush in July 2001.

She has sharply criticised the EU's handling of Brexit and Catalonia's drive for independence and poured scorn on Angela Merkel's open-door migration policy, which she has called 'grossly negligent'.

A row was sparked on Friday as to whether the invitation was appropriate.

'How is Austria's presidency of the EU meant to live up to the government's own claims of building bridges (between the EU and Russia) and being an honest broker, when Austria's foreign minister and chancellor are so obviously on one side?' asked MP Andreas Schieder of the opposition Social Democrats (SPOe).

SPOe MEP Evelyn Regner said the invite sent a 'shameful' image of Austria to its EU partners, branding it 'a provocation of European proportions'.

The Greens called for Kneissl's resignation, pointing out that 'Vladimir Putin is the EU's most aggressive enemy in matters of foreign policy'.

Yet the foreign ministry insisted that Putin's visit 'will not change anything in terms of Austria's foreign policy positions'.

However Putin's attendance was originally described as a 'private event' by Kneissl's office but has since been upgraded to a 'working visit'.

FPOe Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache is also at the ceremony.

Putin headed to talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel near Berlin on Saturday evening following the ceremony.

Topics during the bilateral talks included Ukraine, Syria and the planned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany that the United States and some European countries object to.</s>Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, congratulates Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl as he attends the wedding of Kneissl with with Austrian businessman Wolfgang Meilinger in Gamlitz, southern Austria, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. (Roland Schlager/pool photo via AP)

BERLIN (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is flying to Austria to attend the wedding Saturday of the country’s foreign minister, before heading to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Austrian authorities have imposed tight security measures around the site of the ceremony near the southern town of Graz of Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, who was nominated by the pro-Russia Austrian Freedom Party.

Putin’s meeting with Merkel late Saturday takes place at the German government’s guesthouse in Meseberg, north of Berlin. Topics during the bilateral talks include Ukraine, Syria and the planned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany that the United States and some European countries object to.

The two leaders planned to make statements before the talks.</s>Russian President Vladimir Putin made a flying visit to Austria to attend the wedding of the country’s foreign minister on Saturday, before heading to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Austrian authorities imposed tight security measures around the site of the ceremony near the southern border with Slovenia, where foreign minister Karin Kneissl married her partner Wolfgang Meilinger, a businessman.

Kneissl, an independent, was nominated by the pro-Russia Austrian Freedom Party, whose leaders also attended the wedding.

Photos showed Putin dancing with the bride, who was dressed in traditional Austrian costume.

According to Austrian public broadcaster ORF, Putin also took a small Cossack men’s choir along to entertain about 100 guests at the wedding.

Austrian politician Joerg Leichtfried of the opposition Social Democratic Party criticised Kneissl’s decision to invite Putin to the wedding.

Vladimir Putin arrives for the wedding of Karin Kneissl and Wolfgang Meilinger in Sulztal an der Weinstrasse (Ronald Zak/AP)

He said it called into question Austria’s role as a neutral intermediary in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Russia-backed rebels are battling government forces.

Putin’s meeting with Merkel late Saturday takes place at the German government’s guesthouse in Meseberg, north of Berlin.

A police line blocks the Tscheppe vineyard in Sulztal an der Weinstrasse (Ronald Zak/AP)

Topics during the bilateral talks include Ukraine, Syria and the planned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany to which the United States and some European countries object.

The two leaders were scheduled to make statements before the talks, but there were no plans for a news conference afterwards.</s>Russian President Vladimir Putin made a flying visit to Austria to attend the wedding of the country’s foreign minister on Saturday, before heading to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Austrian authorities imposed tight security measures around the site of the ceremony near the southern border with Slovenia, where foreign minister Karin Kneissl married her partner Wolfgang Meilinger, a businessman.

Kneissl, an independent, was nominated by the pro-Russia Austrian Freedom Party, whose leaders also attended the wedding.</s>The president of Russia made a brief visit to Austria on Saturday to attend the wedding of the Alpine country's minister of foreign affairs.

The wedding between Karin Kneissl and her businessman groom Wolfgang Meilinger took place in the southern municipality of Gamlitz.</s>Russian President Vladimir Putin made a flying visit to Austria to attend the wedding of the country's foreign minister on Saturday, before heading to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel .

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a flying visit to Austria to attend the wedding of the country's foreign minister on Saturday, before heading to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Vladimir Putin dances with Austria's pro-Moscow foreign minister at her wedding

Austrian authorities imposed tight security measures around the site of the ceremony near the southern border with Slovenia, where foreign minister Karin Kneissl married her partner Wolfgang Meilinger, a businessman.

Kneissl, an independent, was nominated by the pro-Russia Austrian Freedom Party, whose leaders also attended the wedding.

Photos showed Putin dancing with the bride, who was dressed in traditional Austrian costume.

According to Austrian public broadcaster ORF, Putin also took a small Cossack men's choir along to entertain about 100 guests at the wedding.

Austrian politician Joerg Leichtfried of the opposition Social Democratic Party criticised Kneissl's decision to invite Putin to the wedding.

He said it called into question Austria's role as a neutral intermediary in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Russia-backed rebels are battling government forces.

Putin's meeting with Merkel late Saturday takes place at the German government's guesthouse in Meseberg, north of Berlin.

Topics during the bilateral talks include Ukraine, Syria and the planned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany to which the United States and some European countries object.

The two leaders were scheduled to make statements before the talks, but there were no plans for a news conference afterwards.</s>Russian President Vladimir Putin danced arm in arm with Austria's Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl at her wedding on Saturday, after receiving an invitation that opposition critics said undermined the West's stance against Moscow.

Putin arrived in a car carrying a bouquet of flowers and accompanied, local media said, by a troupe of Cossack singers booked to serenade the newlyweds - on a stopover on his way to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel outside Berlin.

Photographs showed Kneissl, 53, smiling in a long white and cream "dirndl" dress and talking to Putin as they danced in a vineyard in southern Styria province, the venue of her wedding to entrepreneur Wolfgang Meilinger.

The invitation surprised many in Vienna and Moscow, particularly at a time when the European Union is at odds with Russia over its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and other issues.

There have been no reports that Kneissl - a polyglot Middle East expert without political affiliation - has a particularly close friendship with Putin. But she was appointed to her job by the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) which has links with Putin's party.
Russian president Vladimir Putin attends the wedding of Austrian foreign minister Karin Kneissl (FPÖ) and businessman Wolfgang Malinger.