Moscow, November 29, 2024 – The Europe Today: Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally apologized to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel for bringing his pet dog, Koni, to their 2007 meeting in Sochi, dismissing claims that the gesture was intended to make her feel uncomfortable.
Merkel, known to have a fear of dogs after a reported incident in 1995, revealed in her memoir Freedom that she felt uneasy during the encounter. The black Labrador was present as the two leaders posed for photographs, a moment Merkel described as challenging.
In her memoir, Merkel reflected on the incident, writing:
“I tried to ignore the dog, even though he was moving more or less right next to me. I interpreted Putin’s facial expressions to mean that he was enjoying the situation. Did he just want to see how a person in distress reacts? Was it a small demonstration of power? I just thought: stay calm, concentrate on the photographers, it will pass.”
When questioned about the incident during a recent visit to Kazakhstan, Putin reiterated that he had no prior knowledge of Merkel’s fear of dogs. “If I had known about it [back then], I would have never done it,” he told reporters.
The Russian president explained that his intention had been to foster a “relaxed, pleasant atmosphere,” adding that his experience living in Germany had taught him that Germans generally have a positive attitude toward pets.
“I thought she would enjoy it. Later I found out that she is afraid of dogs,” Putin said. “When I found out, I apologized to her.”
Putin took the opportunity to publicly extend his apology again:
“Angela, please forgive me. I did not want to distress you in any way. If you ever come [to Russia] – I realize that it is unlikely today – I will not do it again.”
The incident, often cited as an example of tense diplomacy, has resurfaced following the publication of Merkel’s memoir. Putin had previously addressed the matter in a 2016 interview, where he mentioned apologizing to Merkel at the time.
The apology underscores the complexities of international relations, where even unintended gestures can take on symbolic significance.
