Merkel puts Putin on the spot over Women's Day

Women's Day is a serious celebration in Russia, where men are expected to give flowers to women

German Chancellor Angela Merkel put President Vladimir Putin on the spot today, asking if the former KGB spy had cooked breakfast for his wife Lyudmila to celebrate International Women's Day.

Putin smiled awkwardly before taking a deep breath: "I prepared her present and we will have breakfast together."

"Then breakfast means lunch?" Merkel quipped back at a meeting that took place after midday at the Novo-Ogaryovo presidential residence outside Moscow.

"Yes I suppose so. But it is Pancake holiday too ... so we will have fun later today." Putin snapped back.

Women's Day is a serious celebration in Russia, where men are expected to give flowers to their female partners and colleagues and do the house work at home.

Russians are also celebrating the end of winter with Pancake week, a pre-Christian carnival of revelry across Russia.

West to have it no easier under Medvedev
Meanwhile, Putin warned the West today that it would have it no easier under his successor Medvedev, who will actively defend Russian interests on the world stage.

Speaking after talks with Merkel, Putin said he had the feeling some world leaders were waiting for his presidency to end as they found it uncomfortable to work with a former KGB spy.

But Putin said Medvedev, who was elected president in the March 2 election, was a Russian patriot who would defend the country's interests.

"I do not think our partners will have it easier with him," Putin told reporters at a joint news briefing with Merkel, who is on the first visit by a foreign leader since Medvedev was elected Russian president.

Merkel said she saw Medvedev as her "immediate partner in dialogue" ahead of the Group of Eight's meeting in Japan later this year. Medvedev will host Merkel separately at a later meeting.

Merkel was expected to voice concern about the fairness of the vote Medvedev won and assess the prospects for any shift in policy under the incoming head of state, who will be sworn in as president in May.

International observers and opposition groups have criticised the March election as unfair. Putin says the election was held in strict accordance with the Russian constitution. - Reuters