President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he believes his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama would save him if he was drowning.
"I can't say that I have a special personal relationship with the U.S. president, but I think that he is a decent man, and is courageous enough that he would certainly" save me, Putin said, in response to a question from a 6-year-old girl during his annual call-in show.
Putin, who selected the question himself, said that he would not like the situation to arise, however.
Relations between the two leaders have become increasingly strained due to Russia's recent annexation of the Crimea region. They were also at odds last year over Russia's decision to grant asylum to U.S. intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, who also asked Putin a question on the show via a video link.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.