Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov is part of Kremlin leader Putin's summit team. He caused a stir with a statement on his sweatshirt."Lavrov makes it clear what's at stake," commented one expert.
According to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Russia is arriving in Alaska with a clear position on the summit with the US. He doesn't want to prejudge any results, Lavrov told the Russian state television channel Rossiya-24 upon arrival in Anchorage."We know we have arguments, a clear and understandable position. We will present them."
Much of the preparation for the meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in the northern US state was made during US negotiator Steve Vitkoff's visit to Moscow last week. Lavrov said they hope to continue this"useful conversation."
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Lavrov caused a stir with his attire upon arrival at the summit: beneath a black down vest, he wore a white sweater with the letters"CC." Apparently, the full inscription reads CCCP, the Russian abbreviation for Soviet Union.
Russian media debated whether this was meant as a joke for the Americans or as a threatening gesture toward former Soviet republics. In any case, clothing bearing the traditional lettering is fashionable in modern Moscow.
Political scientist Peter Neumann commented on Lavrov's appearance on X, saying:"The whole problem in a sweatshirt. Fallen empires take a long time to adjust their self-perception to the new reality—and in the meantime, they react aggressively and unpredictably. Lavrov makes it clear what's at stake."
Paul Ronzheimer, deputy editor-in-chief of the"Bild" newspaper, wrote on X:"I'm surprised that so many people are surprised by Lavrov's T-shirt. It sums up our problem with the way we view Putin/Russia: What shouldn't be allowed to happen, or rather, we prefer to look away. Perhaps Putin means something completely different than what he's always said."
Trump plans to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine and an end to the war at the meeting. Putin, on whose orders Russia attacked Ukraine, has so far shown no signs of conceding. Due to the time difference, the summit doesn't begin until late Friday evening German time.
dpa/cvb
