Vladimir Putin denies trying to recruit Melania Trump at the G20

Vladimir Putin has denied a bizarre suggestion that he tried to recruit U.S. First Lady Melania Trump at the G20.

The Russian President met Ms Trump at a dinner during the summit in Hamburg, Germany, last July along with her Italian counterpart Emanuela Mauro.

Mr Putin said he discussed Russian maternity benefits with the pair, who he said were ‘surprised how large [they] are’.

Mr Putin was being interviewed by Vladimir Solovyev for upcoming documentary World Order 2018 (pictured)

Vladimir Solovyev, interviewing the former KGB operative for an upcoming documentary, then asked if he tried to recruit Ms Trump as a Russian asset.

‘No, I have not been doing this for a very long time. Although I used to love doing this. That was my job for many years,’ Mr Putin replied with a laugh.

Solovyev was likely responding to earlier discussion of Mr Putin’s Soviet-era experience as a spy as this theory doesn’t appear to have been suggested before.

The spry 65-year-old also bragged to the two high-powered wives of his fishing prowess and the beauty of Russia’s Kamchatka bears and Siberian tigers.

‘As is expected in such cases, I boasted a bit (about the size of his catch). How can one speak about fishing and not boast a little?’ he said.

The Russian President met Ms Trump at a dinner during the summit in Hamburg, Germany, last July along with her Italian counterpart Emanuela Mauro (not pictured)

Mr Putin said he discussed Russian maternity benefits with the pair, who he said were ‘surprised how large [they] are’

In the documentary World Order 2018, Mr Putin also discussed Russia’s annexation of the Crimea from Ukraine, and Donald Trump’s presidency.

‘Someone deliberately tipped us to the edge, where, once there, we had to act in the way that we did,’ he said of Crimea.

He admitted he ‘had no doubt’ the West would respond with sanctions but still thought Russia would ‘win in the long run’.

Mr Putin said he did it anyway because of the 2 million people who live in the Crimea, claiming many of them wanted to return to Russian control.

‘When you consider the fates of millions of people on one side… and difficult relations with other countries on the other, of course, the first is incomparably more important,’ he said.

The spry 65-year-old also bragged to the two high-powered wives of his fishing prowess and the beauty of Russia’s Kamchatka bears and Siberian tigers

‘As is expected in such cases, I boasted a bit (about the size of his catch). How can one speak about fishing and not boast a little?’ he said

Mr Putin dodged a question about Russian weapons being used by rebels in eastern Ukraine by implying the West was arming the other side.

‘I actually think that everyone there is our people. We should speak about how to end this and how to achieve peace instead of about arms,’ he said.

He responded to being asked about how he felt being called a ‘global villain’ by saying ‘ask the villains’ as it was only Western sources saying that and ‘far from all of them’.

‘I’ve gotten used to it a long time ago… My guiding light is the interest of Russia and its people,’ he said

‘If I feel that I haven’t strayed and that I’m going in the right direction, then I don’t care about anything else.’

In the documentary World Order 2018, Mr Putin also discussed Russia’s annexation of the Crimea from Ukraine, and Donald Trump’s presidency

Mr Putin called Mr Trump a ‘great communicator’ and ‘balanced’ man who easily understood issues and was able to listen.

‘I have no disappointment at all. Moreover, on a personal level he made a very good impression on me,’ he said.

‘It’s possible to negotiate with him, to search for compromises.’ 

He had less kind words for the U.S. political system and accused the West of trying to contain and weaken Russia.

‘[U.S. politics] has demonstrated its inefficiency and has been eating itself up. It’s quite difficult to interact with such a system, because it’s unpredictable,’ he said.

‘We are a great power, and no one likes competition.’