Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday defended his appearance at the Austrian foreign minister's wedding after his dance with the bride caused a furore. "The trip was purely private," he told a press conference in the Black Sea resort of Sochi while meeting Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto. Nevertheless he said that "despite the festivities we were able to speak both to the foreign minister and to the Austrian Chancellor (Sebastian Kurz)".

Austria plays a "very positive role" not only in two-way relations but "in arranging dialogue between Russia and the European Union," he said. Putin was one of a small group of guests at Saturday's wedding of Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl in a wine-growing village in the southeastern Austria. A video showing the bride thanking Putin with a deep bow after a dance together has gone viral and prompted a hail of criticism from her opponents. Putin said the wedding guests were "all grown-ups, with serious positions in society and in government" but were also "very open and joyous."