Putin chief trolls West with controversial outfit choice as he arrives in Alaska for Trump showdown

Russia's foreign minister has been accused of trying to make a mockery of Donald Trump with his controversial outfit choice.

Sergei Lavrov caused quite the stir upon his arrival in Anchorage, Alaska, ahead of the US President's showdown with Vladimir Putin later today (15 August).

He made a strong fashion statement in more ways than one when he hopped out of a black vehicle on Thursday (14 August) evening.

The diplomat, 75, was seen sporting a sweatshirt which was emblazoned with the letters 'CCCP', which is the Russian abbreviation for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, AKA the USSR.

For those who don't know, this was a communist state made up of 15 nations, including Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania, that was eventually toppled in 1991 after the Cold War.

It's long been believed that Putin is on a mission to rebuild the USSR - and it seems Lavrov is leaning into those rumours by rocking up in that sweatshirt.

It appears to be a show of force from Russian's foreign minister ahead of today's crunch talks in Alaska, during which Trump hopes to get Putin to agree to peace in Ukraine by reportedly making him a 'bombshell' offer.

Lavrov said that his country 'never plans ahead' in footage posted to the Russian Foreign Ministry's Telegram channel after the US leader suggested there was a 25 percent chance that the US-Russia summit could end in tears.

"We know that we have arguments, a clear, understandable position," he said, as per The Independent. "We will state it."

His choice of wardrobe has said 1,000 words for a lot of people, including former Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.

In a post on X accompanied by footage of Lavrov wearing the controversial sweatshirt, Landsbergis wrote: "'Just give us half of Ukraine and we promise we will stop', says negotiator wearing USSR sweatshirt."

Russian fashion bloggers reckon that the jumper is from the Chelyabinsk-based brand Selsovet, which specialises in 'Soviet heritage' clothing.

A special forces soldier currently on the frontline in eastern Ukraine, Oleg T, told the Daily Mail that Lavrov was outright 'trolling the Americans' by donning it for his arrival in Alaska.

"It is a middle finger the size of the Statue of Liberty," the 33-year-old said. "If Trump doesn't see that, then he has chosen to be blind. The world, hopefully, is not blind and can see the game Russians are playing."

Ukrainian scientist Vasyl Melnichenko, 76, echoed his comments, saying that the foreign minister's fashion statement was 'no accident'.

He explained: "It’s their message to everyone, including Trump. They’re openly showing what they want - they don’t want peace, they don’t want to negotiate, they want to conquer and kill.

"The USSR is their cherished dream, their desire to regain power, to force everyone to kneel before Moscow, to make everyone their slaves again.

"I lived in Soviet Moscow, I worked there a lot, I know these people, their nature, the atmosphere that prevails there.

"Putin and his circle say one thing and do another - they come to a meeting supposedly about peace wearing a USSR T-shirt - is that a sign of respect for Trump?

"The worst part is that we are losing time, and during that time, our people are dying. I really hope I’m wrong. I want to wake up tomorrow and hear: they agreed on a mutual ceasefire. I’d be the happiest person in the world."

While boarding Air Force One to head to Alaska earlier today, Trump told reporters that Putin was bringing 'a lot of business people' along with him for the trip.

"I like that because they want to do business," the US President said. "But we're not doing business until we get the war settled. The war's got to stop and the killing's got to stop."

He remarked that the US is the 'hottest country' in the world and suggested Putin 'wants a piece of that' because Russia is 'not hot, economically'.

Earlier this week, Trump warned that there would be 'very severe consequences' if they don't shake hands on a deal to end the invasion of Ukraine.