Putin promises to share more of Russia’s gas with Europe

Vladimir Putin pushed his country's interest in Airbus parent EADS and pledged to share more Russian natural gas riches with European customers during a summit with his French and German counterparts.

The confident and determined Russian president also sought to allay European fears about his country's reach - but seemed to revel in the role of friendly and increasingly wealthy neighbour, thanks to soaring oil prices.

All three leaders stressed their warm relations at their first such three-way talks in Compiegne, north west of Paris, and German chancellor Angela Merkel laughed affectionately when French president Jacques Chirac kissed her hand upon arrival at a chateau.