© Dmitry Astakhov/press service of the Russian government/TASS
SAINT PETERSBURG, June 17. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that familiarity with the former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who died June 16, changed his view on Russia’s relations with Europe.
“I’ve known him since the early 90-ies, detail was present during his conversation with the mayor of St. Petersburg Anatoly Sobchak, he invited him to his residence – the German government then was still in Bonn. And then there were several meetings and we have met in various capacities, I was the first conversation made a very strong impression, very strong,” – said Putin told reporters.