Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday paid tribute to former German chancellor Helmut Kohl as a leading statesman during his annual press conference in Moscow.
“He was a personality of international stature, not only because he was a big man, but also because of his deeds and convictions,” Putin said at the nationally televised event.
Conversations with Kohl were always very interesting and instructive, said Putin.
While he had not often spoken to Kohl, Putin acknowledged him as one of the great politicians of modern history who had done a lot for Germany. Kohl’s time in office ended before Putin’s presidency.
Former French president Jacques Chirac, who died in 2019, also received special praise from the Russian leader, who said he had learnt a lot from him.
