Putin’s Effort to Strengthen US-Russia Relations
Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again attempted to foster diplomatic ties with the United States by presenting a portrait of Donald Trump as a gift. This is not the first time Putin has offered a symbolic present to a US president—in 2018, he famously gifted Trump a soccer ball, which underwent a security examination before being accepted. However, it remains unclear whether this recent portrait has been subjected to similar scrutiny.
Putin’s Portrait Gift to Trump
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin gifted the handcrafted portrait of Trump to his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow earlier this month. Peskov confirmed the gift during a press briefing on Monday, but declined to comment further.
The first public mention of the gift came from Witkoff himself, during an interview last week. As reported by Fox News, Witkoff stated that upon receiving the portrait, Trump was visibly impressed and called it ‘beautiful’.
Witkoff Recalls Putin’s Remarks on Trump
During the interview, Witkoff described Putin’s gesture as ‘kind’, recalling a personal sentiment the Russian leader had shared. According to Witkoff, Putin prayed for Trump last year after hearing about the assassination attempt on him during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. “He was praying for his friend,” Witkoff recounted.
Peace Talks on the Ukraine War in Saudi Arabia
Witkoff’s meeting with Putin took place against the backdrop of ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, separate peace talks continued in Saudi Arabia, where US officials met with their Russian counterparts following discussions with Ukrainian negotiators.
2018: The Soccer Ball Gift Under Security Examination
This is not the first time Putin has given a gift to a US President. In 2018, he gifted Trump a soccer ball, which was examined by the US Secret Service for potential security risks before being handed over to Trump’s son.
The scrutiny stemmed from a historic security breach—back in 1945, Soviet schoolchildren gifted US Ambassador Averell Harriman an engraving of the Great Seal of the United States, which later turned out to contain a listening device, allowing Soviet intelligence to eavesdrop on conversations for six years.
While the White House has yet to comment on the security status of Putin’s recent gift, questions remain on whether the portrait was examined for potential surveillance devices.
Putin’s Previous Gifts to US Presidents
Putin has a history of presenting gifts to American presidents. Some notable examples include:
- 2021: A lacquered writing box and pen worth $12,000, gifted to Joe Biden during their Geneva summit.
- 2013: A set of porcelain plates and espresso cups, sent to Barack Obama.
- 2014: A portrait of himself, gifted to George H. W. Bush on his 90th birthday.
Putin’s gift of a portrait to Trump is the latest in a series of symbolic diplomatic gestures between the US and Russia. While some see it as an attempt to strengthen ties, others speculate on its political implications and security concerns. Whether this latest gift will lead to renewed engagement or remain a mere token of diplomacy, only time will tell.
