Published November 28,2024
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Russian President Vladimir Putin apologised to former German chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday, saying he didn’t imply to scare her when he introduced his pet Labrador to a gathering along with her in 2007.
Merkel, who has a well-documented worry of the animals, recalled the tense encounter in her memoir launched Tuesday, accusing Putin of inviting the pet as a “demonstration of power” and taking glee in her discomfort.
“I did not know that she was afraid of dogs,” the Kremlin chief stated Thursday at a press convention within the Kazakh capital Astana.
“I once again appeal to her via the media and say: ‘Angela, please forgive me, I did not want to cause you any heartache.’ On the contrary, I wanted to create a favourable atmosphere for our conversation,” he added.
“If you ever — I realise it is unlikely — come again, I will not do it under any circumstances,” Putin stated.
Images from their 2007 assembly within the Russian metropolis of Sochi confirmed Putin’s black Labrador Retriever Konni sniffing round whereas the German chief sat in her chair, smiling nervously.
Merkel stated of the 2007 encounter in her memoir: “I could tell from Putin’s facial expressions that he was enjoying the situation.”
Putin is understood to be keen on canines and has obtained them from visiting dignitaries on a number of events.
He obtained Konni as a present from Sergei Shoigu, who later turned his defence minister.
Source: www.anews.com.tr