Witkoff’s hand over his heart in front of Putin: symbolic gesture ignites debate

Trump’s envoy greets the Russian president in St Petersburg. It is the third meeting, on the table the war in Ukraine

A hand on the chest, on the side of the heart. This is how Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s envoy, presented himself upon the arrival of Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the presidential library in St Petersburg, where the eagerly awaited meeting on the war in Ukraine was held. The gesture – noted by the Russian news agency Ria Novosti – preceded a formal handshake, immortalised in a video released by the Kremlin.

Witkoff also briefly adjusted his tie before greeting the Russian president. A minor detail, but noted by the local media, in a context where any visual symbolism is carefully deciphered.

‘Welcome’, was the word Putin chose to greet the US envoy. Witkoff responded by expressing appreciation for the time given and satisfaction with the meeting, the third with Putin according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The meeting had not been announced well in advance, increasing media and diplomatic attention on the event.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)