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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
David Kent

RTE Liveline caller who had dinner with Vladimir Putin tells of his bizarre question

Debbie Deegan had been honoured with an award for her work with the now-defunct charity To Children with Love charity.

Debbie had set up the charity in 1998 after a visit to Russia, with her work with children and orphans being applauded in 2018 when she was awarded a medal for her work.

Who presented the award in Moscow? Only Vladimir Putin himself.

Debbie told Joe Duffy about the whole ceremony a couple of years ago, with her talk being aired again on Wednesday's episode of Liveline.

Debbie explained: "It was the most spectacular room and table. I didn't realise he was going to be sitting with us. We have such a perception of him in the west, I had had a talk with him on the stage when receiving my medal and in my speech."

Naturally, Putin did the same thing a lot of other people do when they hear that someone is from Ireland.

She continued: "You are overwhelmed by him because of his preconceived notions of him. He knew I was from Ireland and asked if I had met Conor McGregor."

It comes as the fighting in Ukraine continues, with Putin brazenly claiming that Ukrainian forces are using civilians as human shields.

The Russian President said on Thursday that Moscow military operations in Ukraine were "going according to plan" and praised its soldiers as "heroes."

In televised statements, Putin made a series of allegations against the Ukraine forces, none of which he backed up with any evidence.

Among them was a claim that Ukraine were holding foreign citizens hostage and using human shields.

His confidence comes despite reports suggesting intel showed he planned to take Kyiv within 48 hours.

One week since the start of the invasion, they have still not gained control of the capital.

Read the full story HERE.

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