“We all regret, we all looked at it with tears in our eyes,” the head of state quotes Interfax.
As Putin stressed, the cathedral is a symbol not only of France, but also of the "common European civilization, European culture."
“I know that the French business is ready to help in the recovery. I also know that those Russian companies that work together with you that work in France or with French partners are also ready to join, ”he added.
The Kremlin said earlier that Putin offered his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron the help of the best Russian specialists in the restoration of the cathedral.
France intends to restore Notre Dame in five years. Macron appointed his special envoy for his recovery.