Russian President Vladimir Putin caused a media storm today (Saturday) when he hinted that a reporter for the American news network CNBC did not understand what he was saying because she was "beautiful."
The chauvinistic-minded remarks were made by the Russian president during an interview with American reporter Aquarius Gamble, who asked him about allegations against Russia that it uses oil and natural gas prices as an eagle against the EU.
"Here is a beautiful woman, very beautiful. I tell her one thing and immediately she tells me the opposite, as if she did not hear what I said," Putin said in Russian to the listeners of the panel where the question was asked.
"Is what I said so difficult to understand?"
The Russian president wondered in front of the audience.
Gamble herself smiled awkwardly and raised her eyebrows.
She replied to the president that she had "heard" him but she was interested in knowing why his country had delayed so long before increasing its natural gas supply to Europe in order to meet the growing demand.
Although Putin rejected the reporter's remarks, the rest of the idea went more professionally as Putin flatters Russia's position, emphasizing that allegations of using natural gas as a weapon are a lie spread to harm Russia.