Body language experts have interpreted Vladimir Putin's warm reception of US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow as a sign of alignment with Donald Trump's approach to the Ukraine war. The pair arrived on Tuesday for talks aimed at ending Russia's three-year invasion, and were treated to a red-carpet welcome, including lunch at an upscale restaurant, despite being made to wait several hours before meeting Putin.
Notably, Putin did not use his famously oversized negotiating table, a tactic he has employed to psychologically diminish opponents. Instead, the group sat in the middle of the table, fostering a more intimate atmosphere. Body language expert Judi James told the Mirror that this seating arrangement suggested Putin was not trying to 'power-broke' as he might with other leaders.
James observed that both Witkoff and Putin displayed genial body language, with crinkled eyes and rounded cheeks indicating pleasure and good humour. However, she cautioned that Putin, a former KGB officer, is known for deliberately misleading signals, and that his friendly demeanour with Trump in Alaska had little bearing on the summit's outcome.
Despite the cordial atmosphere, officials remained tight-lipped about the meeting's content. Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's foreign policy advisor who was present, described the talks as 'productive'. The negotiations extended for hours, concluding after midnight local time.
