'All I know is that I survived': Former President Bush says he was shocked to find out who served him dinner during a 2006 visit to Russia

Former US President George W. Bush has said he was shocked to discover that Yevgeny Prigozhin – the founder of the Wagner Group – served him dinner more than 17 years ago.

Speaking at the Yalta European Strategy conference, Bush was asked if he felt the news of Prigozhin's death in a plane crash was "shocking" to him.

The conference was held in Kiev, but Bush appeared via video link.

"No, what is shocking to me is that I saw a photo the other day of the G8 summit in St. Petersburg, where he was the guy who served me food," Bush said, Telegraph reports.

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"He was Putin's cook and he was in the photo," the former president said with a smile.

Bush said he did not remember meeting the person in person.

"All I know is that I survived," he added.

The former president was then asked if he thought Russian leader Vladimir Putin could "survive" the fallout from the war in Ukraine if the conflict does not end in Moscow's favor.

A photo dated July 14, 2006, shows the moment Bush and his wife, Laura Bush, met Prigozhin as the couple dined with Putin.

They were at the Constantine Palace during the 32nd G8 Summit in St. Petersburg.

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This was the first time Russia hosted a G8 meeting.

At the time, both Washington and Moscow were discussing further opening of trade between the two nations and the possibility of Russia joining the World Trade Organization.

In those days, Prigozhin had earned the nickname "Putin's cook" because he provided services to the Russian leader. His company, Concord, helped organize state banquets. /Telegraph/