Putin described as out of touch, 'in another world' by German and U.S. officials

WASHINGTON, March 3 (UPI) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that based on her telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, she doubted whether Putin was in touch with reality.

Merkel relayed her impression to U.S. President Barack Obama that Putin was "in another world."

On Monday, former Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul spoke to MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell regarding Putin's military intervention into Ukraine's Crimea region. McFaul echoed Merkel's concern that the Russian president is not thinking clearly.

McFaul resigned in February as ambassador to Russia, a position he held since 2009.

[New York Times]