Putin Derails Press Conference With Bizarre Anecdote

Ramil Sitdikov / REUTERS Vladimir Putin had an awkward exchange about cheese with a participant in a televised government-business forum on Thursday.

The Russian president led a gathering of government agencies and business leaders, one of whom was Stefan Duerr, the German-born founder and CEO of EkoNiva, a Russian-based agricultural holding company.

EkoNiva describes itself as the country’s top raw milk producer, maintaining a herd of over 120,000 dairy cows in over 40 regions.

It produces milk, butter, cream, and cheeses, as well as 75,000 tons of seeds annually.

While Duerr was speaking, Putin, 74, commented that he had once gifted him cheese.

“By the way, wasn’t it you who—after we launched the factory—sent me cheese, yes? Definitely,” he said.

But Duerr, at first, said that he hadn’t.

“You are mistaken,” he replied.

“We didn’t send any yet.

But we’re sending it in the immediate future.” Putin insisted otherwise.

“No, one of the manufacturers… it was very tasty cheese," he said.

Duerr, appearing confused and flustered, suddenly changed his tune.

“Oh, exactly! Vladimir Vladimirovich.

No, no.