Total Stranger Makes Putin Purrrr Publicly

Putin explains tummy kiss.

As the Russian president talks with Nikita for several seconds, he tugs at the boy's shirt before finally lifting it up and kissing him on his bare stomach.

"He seemed to me very independent, very serious, but at the same time a boy is always vulnerable. He was very sweet. I'll be honest: I felt an urge to squeeze him like a kitten, and that led to the gesture that I made. There was nothing behind it really," Putin said, smiling.

We the little people and our little offspring really are pets. Here kitty kitty kitty ... here little vulnerable kitty kitty ...