Russian President Vladimir Putin has appeared in public for the first time since March 5, putting an end to rumors that ranged from possible ill health, to a coup.
Putin met Kyrgyzstan President Almazbek Atambayev at at a tsarist palace in Strelnya, outside St. Petersburg.
Commenting on the rumors about his health, Putin said "things would be boring without gossip,” according to the RIA Novosti news agency.
The BBC reported that Putin earlier ordered Russia's navy to a state of full combat readiness in the Arctic, as the navy conducted drills involving 56 warships, planes and 38,000 personnel.
According to a tweet from the meeting in St Petersburg, Atambayev said that Putin "just took me for a little drive – he was at the wheel – nearby here, and I can confirm that he's in excellent form.”
A Russian TV news channel, Rossiya 24, also reportedly showed brief footage of Putin at the meeting with Atambayev, without sound.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov – who was quoted in a Russian journalist's tweet – said St. Petersburg was chosen for the meeting since Atambayev's daughter is studying there.
Peskov added that the "little drive" mentioned by the Atambayev lasted about 20 minutes, and that Putin "showed what a beautiful place Strelnya is.”