Russian President Vladimir Putin has had another public meltdown – his fourth in a week. It’s been a furious week in the Kremlin, with the Daily Star following Putin’s temper closely as it flares in full public view with the latest breakdown happening at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum at the Constantine Palace in Saint Petersburg.
What started last Friday as a simple question and answer session with the press descended into an anger as Putin fired back at two reporters who just asked normal questions.
The first saw Putin being asked about a Russian drone that was part of an attack on Ukraine that went astray and struck an apartment building in eastern Romania, injuring two people in the NATO member country.
Romanian officials said on Friday that the incursion added to concerns that the war could spread across the alliance’s borders. The drone was tracked overnight by radar in Romanian airspace, crashed onto the roof of the building in the Danube port city of Galati and sparked a fire, the Defense Ministry said in a statement. The two injuries were minor and several people were evacuated. Putin’s response was strange, with a back-and-forth developing between the pair.
He said: “Are you listening to me or not? I do not even understand what you are talking about. Before entering the hall, they told me ‘you know, some drone flew into Romania’ and I said ‘I don’t know. What kind of drone?’ So, tell me, what exactly is being reported in the media.”
The rant continued – leaving many people baffled – before he exploded for a second time during the same event. Putin was asked by Pavel Zarubin of the Kremlin-loving Rossiya TV channel a question about how Europe is threatening war with Russia, which led to another wild response.
Zarubin said – in a question that was more like a statement: “Hardly a day goes by without European politicians and even leaders saying that they are getting ready for a war against Russia. They have even mentioned specific dates. Here comes a logical question: are we factoring into our preparations the fact that they are preparing for a war against us?”
This saw Putin explode once more, accusing Western European countries of “lying”, before later asking another rep if he had to “spell it out for you” in response to a question on Armenia.
And now he’s exploded once more, during a session with top journalists from more media organisations – with his anger turning to Andrey Kondrashov is the former First Deputy Director General of All-Russia Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, who was leading the session.
Kondrashov launched a very strange attack on Germany’s DPA Head of News Service Martin Romanczyk, which saw Putin launch to the journalist’s defence.
Kondrashov said: “But, you know, I would first like to put a question to Martin myself, if I may. You represent Germany’s largest and leading news agency.
“As a journalist, do you get the impression that your country is preparing for war? Is this really the case, or does it merely appear so to us? And is it truly gearing up to engage in conflict with Russia?”
Before he could reply, a fuming Putin raged: “I object. There is no need for you to respond. You are not here to be interrogated – you are here as an investigator; interrogate others.”
Andrei Kondrashov replied: “Then we will speak separately after this meeting.”
But in a dignified response, Romanczyk simply said: “I would like to respond to your question. No, I do not think so.”
The awkwardness gave way to an actualy question on the European Union, which Putin responded to, but images show a very shaken Romanczyk who was left a little red-faced by the question.
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