Russian President Vladimir Putin reemerged on Monday after a mysterious 10-day absence from public view that sparked much speculation about his health.

“It would be dull without gossip,” said the 62-year-old leader in response to the rumors on Monday, during his meeting in St. Petersburg with his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambayev.

The Russian politician, who was last seen in public on March 5 with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, looked healthy and his reappearance put rumors of his illness – or death – at rest.