Vladimir Putin rejects Japan's gift dog

  • 11/12/2016
Russian President Vladimir Putin with his dog (file)
Russian President Vladimir Putin with his dog (file)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly rejected a Japanese attempt to gift him another pet dog.

In 2012, Japan gave Mr Putin - a dog person - with a female Akita dog.

Japan House of Representatives member Koichi Hagiuda said the government had planned to provide Mr Putin with a male mate of the same breed.

However, Mr Putin turned the dog down.

"Unfortunately, we heard from our counterparts, and our hope to present a bridegroom was dashed," Mr Hagiuda said in a blog post.

Mr Putin will be meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe next week to discuss restoring relations damaged by Russia's annexation of the Crimea region in 2014, and lingering territorial tensions over the status of the Kuril Islands.

Newshub.