That time Putin brought his dog to a meeting to scare Angela Merkel

pulse

July 7, 2017 2:03 PM

"He's afraid of his own weakness."

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a joint news conference in Moscow's Kremlin on Nov.16, 2012.

Throughout their relationship as world leaders, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin have shared an understanding. After all, Putin served as a KGB officer in Germany from 1985 to 1990.

"When Putin and Merkel meet, they sometimes speak in German (he’s better in her language than she is in his), and Putin corrects his own interpreter to let Merkel know that nothing is lost on him," George Packer of The New Yorker wrote in a profile of Merkel.

"Putin’s brand of macho elicits in Merkel a kind of scientific empathy."

The profile

During discussions about energy supplies at Putin's home in Sochi back in 2007, the Russian president called his black lab, Koni, into the room with Merkel. From The New Yorker (emphasis added):

"Later, Merkel interpreted Putin's behavior. 'I understand why he has to do this — to prove he's a man,' she told a group of reporters. 'He's afraid of his own weakness. Russia has nothing, no successful politics or economy. All they have is this.'"

The Kremlin has used animals to antagonize world leaders before. Putin once played the "my dog is bigger than your dog" game with then-President George W. Bush. The incident actually served as inspiration for one of Bush's paintings.

Christina Sterbenz contributed to this story.

pulse