Vladimir Putin refused to meet Moscow's new ambassadors of the United States and the European Union in person amid his war against Ukraine.
The 70-year-old snubbed the delegates due to "sanitary restrictions" and instead spoke from the other side of the gilded Alexander Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace - some 60 feet away. The scene was redolent of his use of a long table.
Putin insists it was for coronavirus concerns despite the Russian leader meeting numerous people in recent weeks, which included a spontaneous visit to war-torn Mariupol in invaded Ukraine.
It is reported that visitors must undergo two weeks of isolation before interacting with the Russian president.
Lynne Tracy, from the US, and Roland Galharague, representing the EU, were among 17 new envoys at the ceremony, as were the new ambassadors of NATO states Norway and Denmark.
During the ceremony in the Kremlin, the delegates accepted their credentials. Putin said: "We won’t be able to talk in person, but in the course of your work, I’m sure this opportunity will come up again and again."
Despite Tracy becoming the first ever American woman ambassador to Russia, Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, insisted that there would not be a separate ceremony for the feat.
Instead, he openly acknowledged that the relationship between the two countries is in "deep crisis".
Putin said: "Relations between Russia and the United States are in deep crisis.
"The use by the United States in its foreign policy of such tools as a support for the so-called 'colour revolutions', support in this regard for the coup d'état in Kyiv in 2014, ultimately led to today's Ukrainian crisis."
He added: "Russia is open to constructive partnership with all countries, without exception, and is not going to isolate itself….
"Our country will continue to act as one of the sovereign centres of world politics and carry out a historic mission to maintain global balance."
His concerns over Covid-19 is adding to the growing list of 'paranoia' from the Russian leader having reportedly moving into his office in the Kremlin due to the stress caused by the war in Ukraine.
Putin is believed to have deserted his gymnast lover, Alina Kabaeva, 39, and their young children to live inside Russia ’s most famous fortress. The couple has at least two children, born in 2015 and 2019, it is reported.
There is speculation he has taken the move to be in the well-guarded Kremlin for security reasons. Up until now, Putin, 70, lived in his official residence, Novo-Ogaryovo, outside Moscow.
