Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologized to Angela Merkel for bringing his pet dog to their meeting 17 years ago, dismissing the former German chancellor’s claims that he wanted to make her feel uncomfortable on purpose.
Black labrador Koni briefly joined Putin and Merkel during their meeting in Sochi, Russia in 2007. Merkel, who is afraid of dogs after being reportedly bitten by one in 1995, later said that she felt uneasy by the presence of Putin’s dog in the room.
Putin “intended to make a statement, even with the help of his labrador Koni if necessary,” Merkel wrote in her recently released memoirs titled ‘Freedom’.