The Russian leader, Putin, gifted a portrait he had commissioned to US President Trump. It was reported that Trump was quite impressed by the portrait, which he found “elegant.” In a statement from the Kremlin, it was reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had gifted a portrait he commissioned to US President Donald Trump. Kremlin Spokesperson Dimitri Peskov stated in response to a journalist’s question that Putin had given the painting to Trump’s special representative, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow earlier this month. Witkoff mentioned the gift for the first time in an interview he gave to former Fox News host Tucker Carlson last week, describing Trump as “clearly impressed” by the portrait he defined as “beautiful.” Witkoff met with Putin and Russian officials after talks aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine. Ceasefire talks continued in Saudi Arabia yesterday, with US officials meeting Ukrainian negotiators before meeting with their Russian counterparts a day later. During his interview with Carlson, Witkoff described Putin’s gift as “elegant” and recalled an incident where Putin, upon hearing that Trump had been shot at a rally in Pennsylvania last year, said he prayed for Trump. Witkoff, recounting Putin’s comments, stated, “He was praying for his friend.” In 2018, Putin had gifted then-President Trump a soccer ball, which he had checked for listening devices before giving it to Trump’s son. This precaution was a reminder of a gift given to an American diplomat during the Soviet era, which was found to be bugged.