In a candid reflection on a 2007 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has claimed that the Russian leader brought his black Labrador, Koni, to the meeting as a deliberate “test” of her resilience. Merkel, who has a well-known fear of dogs stemming from a 1995 bite incident, shared her account in a recent interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour and in her memoir, Freedom.
Recalling the incident in Sochi, Russia, Merkel described how the dog’s unexpected presence challenged her composure. “It’s a little, small attempt to test the waters – you know, how resilient a person is, how strong,” Merkel said, adding that her aides had informed Russian officials of her discomfort with dogs ahead of the meeting. She interpreted Putin’s reaction as a calculated display of power, stating that his facial expressions suggested he was enjoying her visible discomfort.
In her memoir, Merkel elaborates on the episode, speculating that the move was a deliberate statement. “Did he just want to see how a person in distress reacts?” she pondered, recalling her efforts to remain calm under pressure.
However, Putin has consistently denied any malicious intent. Speaking to reporters last month, he reiterated that he was unaware of Merkel’s fear of dogs at the time. “If I had known about it, I would have never done it,” he said, claiming that Koni’s presence was meant to foster a “relaxed, pleasant atmosphere,” based on his understanding of Germans’ affinity for pets.
Putin also revealed that he apologized to Merkel after learning of her fear, telling reporters, “Angela, please forgive me. I did not want to distress you in any way.” He added that he would not repeat such an incident if she were to visit Russia again, though he acknowledged the likelihood of such a meeting is slim today.
