President Putin underlined that those who kidnapped Mr Fleutiaux had nothing to do with Islam, but were instead religious fanatics, since those who profess Islam would have never attacked a republic of that faith.
The French Ambassador to Russia, Claude Blanchmaison, who attended the meeting, handed Mr Putin a message from President Jacques Chirac on the rescue of the French photojournalist by Russian security forces.
Mr Putin said that on Tuesday he would speak by telephone with Mr Chirac.