An apology 17 years later. Vladimir Putin returned this Thursday, November 28, to an unusual episode that occurred when former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was on an official visit to Sochi, Russia, in January 2007: while the two leaders were talking, sitting in armchairs in front of the cameras. , the Russian president’s labrador had exploded at his feet.
In FreedomAccording to her memoirs published on Tuesday, Angela Merkel explains that she experienced this moment very badly and remembers that she has a phobia of dogs. Details that Vladimir Putin was quick to comment on during a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
“If you ever come back, I won’t do it again.”
“Angela, excuse me, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I wanted to create a favorable atmosphere for our conversation. I apologize,” he said.
“I understand that today it is unlikely, but if you come back one day, I will not do it again,” the Russian president said again, with a smile on his lips.
Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel were leaders at the same time for twelve years and therefore met on multiple occasions, in particular to discuss the situation in Ukraine, until the German Chancellor retired from political life in 2021.
In her book, Angela Merkel describes the Russian president as “a man who is perpetually alert, afraid of being mistreated and always ready to throw punches, including power plays with a dog and making others wait.”
However, he says he “continues to think” that “despite all the difficulties (…) he did well to insist (…) on not letting contacts with Russia be broken (…) and also on preserving the links”. through commercial relationships, beyond mutual economic benefits.
Source: BFM TV
