Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed regret over a 2007 incident where he unintentionally scared former German Chancellor Angela Merkel with his dog during a meeting in Sochi. Speaking in Kazakhstan, Putin stated he was unaware of Merkel's fear of dogs and wished to create a relaxed atmosphere. He addressed Merkel directly, saying, 'Angela, excuse me, I did not want to cause you pain.'
The incident, which has been a topic of discussion for years, involved Putin's black Labrador, Konni, approaching Merkel, who has a well-known phobia of dogs due to a childhood incident. Merkel's memoirs suggest that Putin may have used the situation to assert his dominance, while she had previously requested that he not bring his dog to their meetings.
A famous photograph from the meeting captures Merkel's anxious expression as she stares at Konni, while Putin appears amused. Merkel recalls telling herself to 'stay calm' during the encounter, which she felt was a deliberate display of power by Putin.
