In what is being compared to General Eisenhower trying to send Hitler a note that said “surrender now” but instead giving him a fantastic recipe for rhubarb pie, NATO has accidentally mailed Russian president Vladimir Putin a photo of a kitten.
NATO spokesperson Bernard Easibrot said that the organization had intended on posting Putin a letter reaffirming the alliance’s commitment to using force to defend Ukraine, but along the way a mistake was made.
“We’ve got a lot on our plate right now, with this whole standoff thing,” Easibrot said. “I can’t even tell you how many press releases, diplomatic cables, and top-secret communiqués we have to send out each day, and sometimes we get mixed up.”
“The kitten photo in question is one that we usually include in our Happy Holidays cards that we send to friends and allies,” he continued. “Even if it was a mistake, I do sincerely hope that it gave President Putin some joy.”
“That little creature is so adorable, looking at the world with its purrrrrrr-fect little kitty eyes,” he added. “Aww.”
Following the revelation of the mix-up, NATO officials engaged in several hours of heated exchange on how best to deal with the mistake. Some officials suggested that NATO claim it was a prank, while others insisted that they should say nothing to avoid further embarrassment.