A prominent Russian legislator has delivered a stinging rebuke to the United Kingdom and its European allies, following the revelation that former US President Donald Trump has prominently displayed a photograph of himself alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin within the White House.
A Deliberate Display in the Presidential Residence
The controversial image, captured during the leaders' summit in Anchorage, Alaska last August, has been framed and hung in a vestibule area connecting the West Wing to the presidential residence. Notably, the photograph is positioned above another personal snapshot featuring Trump with his granddaughter, Carolina, at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida.
This placement prompted immediate criticism from across the American political aisle. Mark Warner, the Democratic Senator from Virginia who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, voiced sharp disapproval, stating the act was tantamount to "Putting Putin above the American people and his own family. Almost a little too on the nose."
Moscow's Mockery of European Allies
In stark contrast, the gesture has been received warmly within Russian political circles. In an interview with the state-owned media outlet Gazeta.Ru, Alexei Zhuravlev, the First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Duma's Defence Committee, seized the opportunity to deride Western leaders.
"Relations are at least respectful, otherwise in his office, Trump definitely would not have posted a joint photo," Zhuravlev asserted. He then pointedly added, "Incidentally, note that there are no images of any European leaders in the White House, nor of Zelensky—the US, apparently, doesn't consider them worth considering."
This pointed remark is interpreted as a direct jibe at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other European heads of state, coming after a period of notably strained relations between the European Union and President Trump, particularly concerning his past expressed interest in acquiring Greenland.
Interpreting Trump's Motivations
Zhuravlev offered a cynical interpretation of Trump's motives for displaying the photograph, suggesting the former president "really wanted to be like the Russian president" whom he characterised as a "famous collector of lands." However, the Russian lawmaker was quick to add a qualifier, noting, "So far he has not managed to add anything to the United States."
Zhuravlev further contrasted the political stability of the two nations, claiming, "In addition, the situation inside the country is very shaky – unlike Russia, where the absolute majority of the population quite sincerely supports its national leader."
The Anchorage Summit's Lasting Legacy
The Anchorage meeting between Putin and Trump, now immortalised in Trump's framed display, is viewed by the Kremlin as a pivotal moment in the context of Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine. It marked the Russian leader's first visit to a Western nation since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, an event deemed so significant that the Kremlin has announced it will feature in updated versions of Russian school history textbooks.
Zhuravlev, known for his outspoken remarks, has been a frequent commentator on military affairs. His latest comments follow reports of Russia deploying new hypersonic, nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles in strikes against Ukraine's Lviv region. He warned that such technology renders Western capitals "effectively defenceless," underscoring the tense geopolitical backdrop against which this diplomatic snub is playing out.
The symbolic act of displaying the Putin photograph, and Moscow's gleeful response, highlights the deepening diplomatic fissures and the ongoing war of words between Russia and Western powers, with the UK positioned firmly in the line of fire from the Kremlin's rhetoric.
