With results showing a decisive victory for moderate Emmanuel Macron in the French election, defeated opponent Vladimir Putin has made the formal call conceding defeat.

Macron thanked Putin for running a feisty determined campaign, and told him his hackers and fake news trolls should nevertheless feel proud for putting up a good fight.

Putin wished Macron well, and said he looked forward to going up against him again in the next election or whenever he got around to ‘starting something’ in the Baltic States.

Though Putin was said to be personally disappointed at being defeated, he is taking heart from recent victories in the US election and the UK referendum to leave the EU.