Russian leader Vladimir Putin 's ex-wife was so confused by his marriage proposal back in the 80s she thought their relationship was doomed and they were actually breaking up.
Lyudmila Shkrebneva and Putin ended up being married for more than 40 years - welcoming two daughters and eventually grandchildren.
But speaking about how they met years before Lyudmila admitted she didn't think much of the young Putin, who turned up to a double date "poorly dressed".
Although he must have done something right as she took his phone number at the end of the night and the pair began dating for three and a half years.
In Putin's own biography released in 2000 Putin's less-than-romantic proposal was revealed.
Lyudmila told the interviewer she thought their courtship was over when the conversation turned to her then-boyfriend being "a risky life partner".
She said: "One night we were sitting in this house and he said 'You know what kind of person I am by now'.
"'In general, I'm not very easy-going.' He was being self-critical.
"He explained that he was the silent type, that he was rather abrupt in some things and he could even insult people, and so on."
She thought she was being dumped.
She added: "He was saying that he was a risky life partner.
"And he added, 'In three and a half years, you have probably made up your mind.'
"It sounded to me like we were breaking up. 'Yes, I've made up my mind,' I said.
"He let out a doubtful, 'Yes?'"
She added: "Then I was sure that that was it, we were breaking up.
"But then he said, 'Well then if that is the way it is, I love you and propose we get married.'
"So it all came as a complete surprise to me."
Despite their 40-year marriage, the couple's divorce was announced in the Russian media in 2013.
Russian-American journalist Masha Gessen wrote a book titled The Man Without A Face on the leader in 2012.
She wrote: "Mrs Putin has gone on record saying it was by no means love at first sight, for at first sight Putin seemed unremarkable and poorly dressed; he has never said anything publicly about his love for her.
"Her description of the day he finally proposed paints a picture of a profound failure to communicate."
