The owner of the New England Patriots football team, Robert Kraft, said yesterday he spontaneously proffered his 2005 Super Bowl ring to President Putin in Russia last week because he was “touched” by how much the gaudy gem impressed the Russian strongman.

Mr. Kraft, who was said to be traveling in Europe yesterday, released a statement to the press to explain just how Mr. Putin ended up with the diamond encrusted, white-gold jewel in his pocket after meeting with the football owner and other high-powered Western executives near St. Petersburg last weekend.

The New York Sun reported Tuesday about a detailed e-mail, written by a consultant who spoke with an executive who was present at the Russia meeting. By that account, Mr. Kraft showed Mr. Putin the ring, expecting the Russian leader to give it back, but the former KGB officer instead pocketed it and exited with Mr. Kraft’s precious token of his team’s victory.

Rebutting speculation about a possible misunderstanding between the men, Mr. Kraft said Mr. Putin, holding the ring, was “clearly taken with its uniqueness”. “At that point, I decided to give him the ring as a symbol of the respect and admiration that I have for the Russian people and the leadership of President Putin,” Mr. Kraft said in his statement.

He continued: “It was truly an act of serendipity and one that I am honored to have experienced. It touched me to see President Putin’s reaction to the ring and I felt, emotionally, that it was the right way to conclude an exceptional meeting.”