Putin Took His Dog to ’07 Assembly with Then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel?

Claim:

Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced his pet black Labrador to a 2007 assembly with then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, although she fears dogs.

Rating:

Context

Numerous information tales have reported Merkel’s phobia of dogs stemming from a decades-old incident through which she was bitten, and Merkel herself appeared to criticize Putin for bringing the canine to the assembly. A former U.S. intelligence officer on Russia claimed that this was Putin’s intimidation tactic, although Putin denied he was making an attempt to frighten Merkel.

In March 2024, a viral Reddit publish described an incident from 2007 through which Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly introduced his pet black Labrador to a gathering with then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who fears dogs.

(Screenshot through Reddit)

The above incident did certainly take place. In January 2007, whereas assembly in Sochi, Russia, Putin introduced his feminine black Labrador, Horses (generally spelled Until), into the room the place he and Merkel have been seated. Numerous information reviews, together with a profile of Merkel in The New Yorkermentioned she had a concern of dogs. As such, we fee this declare as “True.”

Photographs from Getty Images and video footage of the assembly present the black Lab roaming across the room as Merkel and Putin sit throughout from one another. She seems to be seated stiffly, not touching the canine, whereas Putin strikes Koni away from her at first. Koni finally returns to smell at Merkel, who smiles however doesn’t pet the canine. Putin watches because the canine stays at Merkel’s toes.

A Getty Images caption acknowledged, “The labrador sauntered into the assembly room in entrance of reporters and sat at Merkel’s toes, inflicting the German chancellor obvious discomfort.”

A 2014 New Yorker profile of Merkel detailed the incident together with her biting response to Putin’s resolution to carry the canine to their assembly:

Putin’s model of macho elicits in Merkel a sort of scientific empathy. In 2007, throughout discussions about vitality provides on the Russian President’s residence in Sochi, Putin summoned his black Lab, Koni, into the room the place he and Merkel have been seated. As the canine approached and sniffed her, Merkel froze, visibly frightened. She’d been bitten as soon as, in 1995, and her concern of dogs could not have escaped Putin, who sat again and loved the second, legs unfold broad. “I’m positive it’ll behave itself,” he mentioned. Merkel had the presence of thoughts to answer, in Russian, “It would not eat journalists, in spite of everything.” The German press corps was livid on her behalf — “able to hit Putin,” in accordance with a reporter who was current. Later, Merkel interpreted Putin’s conduct. “I perceive why he has to do that — to show he is a person,” she instructed a gaggle of reporters. “He’s afraid of his personal weak point. Russia has nothing, no profitable politics or economic system. All they’ve is that this.”

Fiona Hill, a U.S. intelligence official who’s considered one of many world’s foremost specialists on Putin, gave an evaluation on his intentions throughout that assembly with Merkel. In a 2020 interview with CBS News’ correspondent Lesley Stahl, she mentioned Putin acquired his coaching from Russian intelligence and tries to gauge different’s vulnerabilities:

Fiona Hill: He wasn’t an expert politician. He got here out of the KGB. He had realized sure abilities there. You’re principally determining learn how to measurement somebody up after which to determine what makes them tick, what their vulnerabilities particularly is perhaps so how will you hone in on these to get folks to do what it’s you need them to do.

Lesley Stahl: Do you assume that he studied President Trump and did discover some vulnerabilities and honed in on them with our president?

Fiona Hill: He does this with completely everyone that he interacts with. For instance with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at one among their first conferences.

Fiona Hill: Putin knew from all of his analysis on her that she was very frightened of dogs. Putin has a really large black Labrador referred to as Konni. And has the black Labrador come into the room and the black lab instantly comes and begins sniffing across the chair of the chancellor. The entire objective of that was intimidation.

Lesley Stahl: Sure.

Fiona Hill: The chancellor is, after all, an expert. And she’s a girl who’s used to having folks attempt to intimidate her and he or she saved it collectively.

In 2016, Putin told a German newspaper that he had no intention of intimidating Merkel. “I wished to do one thing good for her,” he mentioned. “When I came upon that she would not like dogs, after all I apologized.”

In the identical interview, he denied ever having mentioned he admired Merkel, however added, “I worth her as very skilled and open.”

Putin has expressed his affection for Koni. According to CNNPutin as soon as mentioned, “As far as dangerous moods go, after all I’ve them like some other person, however in these instances I attempt to seek the advice of with my canine Koni — she provides me good recommendation.”

Sources