Putin Apologizes to Merkel for 2007 Dog Incident After 17 Years

The Russian president denies knowing about the former German chancellor's fear of dogs and expresses regret for the perceived intimidation during their Sochi meeting.

Vladimir Putin publicly apologized to Angela Merkel for bringing his Labrador, Koni, into a 2007 meeting despite her known fear of dogs.
Merkel, in her recently released memoir, described the incident as a possible 'demonstration of power' and noted Putin appeared to enjoy her discomfort.
Putin claimed he was unaware of Merkel's phobia at the time and stated his intention was to create a relaxed atmosphere, not to intimidate her.
Merkel's team had previously requested in 2006 that Putin not bring the dog to their meetings, a request he initially respected by gifting her a stuffed toy dog instead.
The 2007 encounter became a globally recognized moment, with Merkel recalling her efforts to remain composed despite the dog's proximity and Putin's apparent amusement.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung