Vladimir Putin's decision to stop a small boy as he walked through the Kremlin and kiss his stomach was prompted by a desire to "touch him like a kitten," Putin said Thursday. The 5-year-old boy, identified as Nikita Konkin by the press, was clearly stunned by the kiss and speculation over Putin's motivation has run wild in the week since it happened.
Curious Internet users propelled the issue near the top of a list of questions put to Putin in an interactive webcast.
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