A brief, seemingly routine handshake between Vladimir Putin and his long-time ally has sparked intense speculation about a serious rift at the very top of the Kremlin.
The encounter, captured on video and analysed by body language experts, shows the Russian President greeting Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu with a notably cold and limp handshake before a high-security meeting. The interaction lacked its usual warmth, with Putin avoiding eye contact and offering a grip described as 'lifeless' and 'duty-only'.
Decoding the Kremlin's Silent Language
According to behavioural expert Dr. Stuart Sopp, this was far from a simple greeting. "This was a public display of dissatisfaction," he stated. "The lack of engagement, the averted gaze, and the weak handshake are classic nonverbal cues of displeasure and a deliberate signal of diminished trust."
The chilling moment is widely believed to be a direct reaction to the catastrophic Crocus City Hall attack in March, where ISIS militants killed over 140 people. The devastating security failure has reportedly infuriated Putin, who places a high premium on public displays of control and strength.
A Pattern of Punishment
This frosty exchange is not an isolated incident. It follows reports that Putin initially refused to take Shoigu's calls in the immediate aftermath of the attack. Several high-ranking security officials, including four deputies of the Federal Security Service (FSB), have already been arrested, signalling a furious purge within Russia's security apparatus.
The public handshake is seen as the latest, and most subtle, form of reprimand for Shoigu, who has been a loyal confidant of Putin for decades. By withholding the usual camaraderie, Putin is sending a powerful message to his inner circle without uttering a single critical word.
This analysis suggests that despite their public unity, tensions and blame are running high behind the walls of the Kremlin, with Putin's icy grip speaking volumes about the pressure and instability following the Moscow terror attack.
