Putin: Angela, forgive me for the dog

Vladimir Putin extends an olive branch to his old antagonist Angela Merkel and apologizes for having brought a dog to their meeting in 2007.

» Published:

Putin: Angela, forgive me for the dog
Photo: Mikhail Metzel/AP/TT

Share this article

Russia's president says he did not want to cause the then German Chancellor discomfort with his Labrador Koni when the two leaders met in Sochi 17 years ago.

I appeal to her once again through the media and say: Angela, please forgive me, I did not want to make you nervous. On the contrary, I wanted to create a positive atmosphere for our conversation, says Putin according to several media outlets at a press conference in Astana, Kazakhstan.

He claims that he did not know that Merkel was afraid of dogs, which she denies in her newly published autobiography "Freedom". About the meeting in 2007, she writes that she tried to ignore the dog.

"I interpreted Putin's facial expressions as him finding pleasure in the situation. Did he simply want to see how a person reacts when they are intimidated? Was it a small demonstration of power? The only thing I thought was: Stay calm, focus on the photographers, it's almost over", writes Merkel.

Putin now claims that he has learned his lesson in case of a new meeting.

If you ever, and I realize it's unlikely, come back here, I will not under any circumstances do it again, he says in Astana.

This is not the first time Vladimir Putin has apologized to Merkel. Eight years ago, in 2016, he told the newspaper Bild that he just "wanted to do something nice".

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

EU Climate Goals Delayed Amid Disagreements at Brussels Meeting

EU Climate Goals Delayed Amid Disagreements at Brussels Meeting

Tear Gas Used in France Protests Against Macron's Budget Cuts

Tear Gas Used in France Protests Against Macron's Budget Cuts

Lula Says No Relationship Exists with Trump

Lula Says No Relationship Exists with Trump

Spain to Support ICC's Gaza War Crimes Investigation

Spain to Support ICC's Gaza War Crimes Investigation

Macron Sues to Disprove Rumors About Wife's Gender in US Court

Macron Sues to Disprove Rumors About Wife's Gender in US Court

Trump Meets UK Prime Minister Starmer After Royal Reception

Trump Meets UK Prime Minister Starmer After Royal Reception

Argentinians Celebrate as Congress Rejects Milei's Budget Veto

Argentinians Celebrate as Congress Rejects Milei's Budget Veto

Three Police Officers Killed in Pennsylvania Shooting; Suspect Dead

Three Police Officers Killed in Pennsylvania Shooting; Suspect Dead

Four-Year-Old Omar's Heartbreak After Fleeing Gaza: Who Will I Play With Now?

Four-Year-Old Omar's Heartbreak After Fleeing Gaza: Who Will I Play With Now?

Judge Orders Deportation of Activist Mahmoud Khalil

Judge Orders Deportation of Activist Mahmoud Khalil

Ukraine Anticipates Increased Arms Fund for Weapon Purchases

Ukraine Anticipates Increased Arms Fund for Weapon Purchases

Trump Calls Antifa a Terrorist Organization

Trump Calls Antifa a Terrorist Organization

Tyler Robinson Surrenders to Avoid SWAT Arrest in Charlie Kirk Case

Tyler Robinson Surrenders to Avoid SWAT Arrest in Charlie Kirk Case

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Sign Mutual Defense Agreement

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Sign Mutual Defense Agreement

Trump's Historic Second State Visit to Windsor Castle

Trump's Historic Second State Visit to Windsor Castle

Bernie Sanders Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza, Urges US Action

Bernie Sanders Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza, Urges US Action

IDF Expands Cooperation with Gaza Militias Amid Control Concerns

IDF Expands Cooperation with Gaza Militias Amid Control Concerns

Thousands Protest Trump Visit in London Urging Government to Show Backbone

Thousands Protest Trump Visit in London Urging Government to Show Backbone

50 Sudanese Refugees Die in Libya Boat Fire

50 Sudanese Refugees Die in Libya Boat Fire

Lebanon Military Seizes 64 Million Captagon Tablets in Major Raid

Lebanon Military Seizes 64 Million Captagon Tablets in Major Raid