MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin denied on Thursday (Nov 28) that he had intentionally used his black Labrador, Koni, to unsettle German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a 2007 meeting, which later became infamous as a diplomatic controversy.

In her memoir, Freedom, Dr. Merkel revealed that in 2006, she had requested Putin’s team to ensure Koni was kept away during their meeting, as she had a fear of dogs. Putin respected the request during their Moscow meeting that year but gifted her a large stuffed dog instead, joking that it wouldn’t bite.

However, during their 2007 meeting in Sochi, Koni roamed freely and approached Dr. Merkel, who appeared visibly uneasy while seated beside Putin in front of the media.

When asked about the incident on Nov 28, Putin denied any knowledge of Dr. Merkel’s phobia at the time and said he had apologized later.

"Honestly, I’ve already explained to Dr. Merkel that I didn’t know she was afraid of dogs. If I had known, I would never have done it. My intention was to create a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere," Putin said at a press conference.

Putin then issued another apology, expressing regret and humorously assuring that, should Merkel visit again, he would "absolutely not do it again."

"Angela, please forgive me. I didn’t mean to cause you discomfort," he added, eliciting amused reactions from Russian journalists. In her book, Dr. Merkel described the incident as a trying experience.

"I tried to ignore the dog, even as it moved very close to me. Putin’s expressions seemed to show he was enjoying the moment," she wrote.

She speculated on Putin’s intentions, wondering if it was a subtle power move or merely an attempt to observe her reaction under stress. Her focus, she noted, was to remain calm and composed until the moment passed.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters