Maxim Suchkov, the Russian editor of the American Al-Monitor, has drawn attention to the setting of Putin's talks with Erdoğan on 5 March: behind Recep stands a bronze Catherine II, who routed the Turkish army, destroyed the Turkish fleet at Ochakov and I

Maxim Suchkov, the Russian editor of the American Al-Monitor, has drawn attention to the setting of Putin's talks with Erdoğan on 5 March: behind Recep stands a bronze Catherine II, who routed the Turkish army, destroyed the Turkish fleet at Ochakov and Izmail in 1768-1774 and 1787-1792, and annexed the Crimea in 1783. On the mantelpiece behind Putin and Erdoğan stands a group of Russian soldiers who defeated Turkey in the Balkans in 1877-1878. Of course, this is the usual furnishing, which we have seen in a hundred other photographs of Putin's meetings with various leaders, but it is nonetheless rather witty in the particular circumstances. True, one should bear in mind that then Turkey had an almost medieval army, pitted against a regular and highly equipped Russian one, whereas now the balance of forces has shifted somewhat.