In an interview with Dmitry Gordon, former President of Georgia and head of Ukraine's National Reform Council spoke about Russian President Vladimir Putin and recalled meetings with him. During the interview, Saakashvili talks about other world leaders as well.
Asked by a journalist what advice he gave to Ukrainian President, regarding the upcoming meeting with Putin, the former President of Georgia noted that relations with Putin are not at all similar to those of a politician. He said Putin does not look at you as an equal. Saakashvili said that when he first met with Vladimir Putin, their conversation lasted about five hours. Saakashvili recalls that after the official reception ceremony, Putin took him to a cabinet that once belonged to Stalin.
"He took off his jacket, and we sat by the fireplace somewhere in the corner. He brought cognac and tea, and we talked for a few hours," Saakashvili said. According to the former President of Georgia, Putin reminded him of his former commander, Major Petrov.
"I realized that it was not a negotiation between a big country and a small country; it was not a meeting of two politicians. I had a feeling that Putin was studying my character and weaknesses," the ex-president said.
Saakashvili noted that at the first meeting, the Russian President was quite kind, but after Georgia arrested Russian spies for organizing the terrorist attack, their next meeting consisted of threats and tensions.
"He took me to a dark, separate room. He looked me in the eyes, spoke to me tensely and threatened me with war, as it turned out later, he was not joking," Saakashvili said.
After that, Dmitry Gordon asked about the former President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy - whether the fact that Putin strangled the French politician with a tie was true.
"When Sarkozy visited me after the 2008 talks with Putin, he was clearly confused and scared. Sarkozy told me how dangerous Putin was that he was a real zombie, that he really got his hands on his tie," Saakashvili answered.
Asked if Putin was dangerous, Saakashvili replied that he was dangerous, but not so much that you should be terrified of him, but caution was still needed.
