Posted on 02/08/2016 6:23:40 AM PST by DeathBeforeDishonor1
(CNN)Russian President Vladimir Putin has told a German newspaper he did not mean to scare Chancellor Angela Merkel when he brought his pet Labrador in to meet her during an infamous press conference nine years ago.
Merkel, reportedly fearful of dogs since one attacked her in 1995, was photographed looking distinctly uncomfortable when Putin brought his large black Labrador Koni into a meeting at his summer residence in Sochi, Russia, in January 2007.
The Russian leader appeared to smirk as he watched his pet approach his uneasy VIP guest.
Now, years on, Putin has told German newspaper Bild he had no intention of intimidating Merkel.
"I wanted to do something nice for her," he told the newspaper, in an interview published Monday.
"When I found out that she doesn't like dogs, of course I apologized."
Putin's treatment of Merkel, in office for less than two years at the time, reportedly rankled the German press corps.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Yeh...like a cow...not like the moose that bit my sister
Cow, no problem. Moose, ‘y gott’a watch.
"In the footage, Putin, 53, is shown walking up to a small crowd of tourists in a Kremlin courtyard
and crouching down in front of the boy, who appears to be five or six years old. As the Russian president
talks with Nikita for several seconds, he tugs at the boy's shirt before finally lifting it up and kissing him
on his bare stomach.
"He seemed to me very independent, very serious, but at the same time a boy is always vulnerable. He was
very sweet. I'll be honest: I felt an urge to squeeze him like a kitten, and that led to the gesture that I made.
There was nothing behind it really," Putin said, smiling.
lol you let Obama kiss you all over.
THe rate your going its obvious you and he have a special relationship! HA!
You write like there’s something wrong with you. Same for the way you, er, think. Did you finish grade school?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.