Vladimir Putin and Helmut Kohl, 2006
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl had a big influence on him. The words of Putin, reports RIA Novosti.
“I’ve known him since the early 1990-ies, were extensively present during his conversation with the mayor of St. Petersburg Anatoly Sobchak. And then there were several meetings, we have met many times in different capacities. For me, the first conversation made a very strong impression — very strong,” said the Russian leader.
According to him, the views of Kohl on the future relations between Russia and Germany, Russia and Europe impressed him. “They not only made a great impression on me, but to some extent to a large extent changed my own perspective on these processes. I saw a very deep and thorough in their judgments of the person”, — said Putin.
On Friday, June 16, Kohl died at his home in Ludwigshafen, he was 87 years old. As Chancellor of Germany he held from 1982 to 1998. When it was the unification of West and East Germany.