Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to erstwhile German Chancellor Angela Merkel connected Thursday, saying helium did not mean to scare her erstwhile helium brought his favored Labrador to a gathering with her successful 2007.
Merkel, who has a well-documented fearfulness of dogs, recalled the tense brushwood successful her memoir released Tuesday, accusing Putin of inviting the favored arsenic a "demonstration of power" and taking glee successful her discomfort.
"I did not cognize that she was acrophobic of dogs," the Kremlin main said Thursday astatine a property league successful the Kazakh superior Astana.
"I erstwhile again entreaty to her via the media and say: 'Angela, delight forgive me, I did not privation to origin you immoderate heartache.' On the contrary, I wanted to make a favorable ambiance for our conversation," helium added.
"If you ever — I recognize it is improbable — travel again, I volition not bash it nether immoderate circumstances," Putin said.
Images from their 2007 gathering successful the Russian metropolis of Sochi showed Putin's achromatic Labrador Retriever Konni sniffing astir portion the German person sat successful her chair, smiling nervously.
Merkel said of the 2007 brushwood successful her memoir: "I could archer from Putin's facial expressions that helium was enjoying the situation."
Putin is known to beryllium fond of dogs and has received them from visiting dignitaries connected aggregate occasions.
He received Konni arsenic a acquisition from Sergei Shoigu, who aboriginal became his defence minister.
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